10 Things You Didn’t Know About African Warthogs

Warthogs are a common sight on African safaris, and live throughout a large portion of sub-Saharan Africa. Most people know little about them apart from what they’ve seen in the Disney movie The Lion King, which starred a warthog named Pumbaa.

These unusual-looking critters don’t often top lists of “animals to see,” but due to their funny antics and overall cuteness, they should. Here are 10 things you didn’t know about warthogs.

warthog running

Shutterstock

They are quite speedy

While by no means as fast as other land animals such as the cheetah, warthogs can kick it into high gear when they need to. The low to the ground animals are capable of reaching top speeds of 30 miles per hour (48 kilometers per hour).

warthog and elephant

Shutterstock

They aren’t big fighters

When faced with a match up against another animal, warthogs could probably do some serious damage given their sharp tusks. However, they’ll usually just use their speed to sprint away as fast as possible.

warthog in hole

Shutterstock

They creep inside other animals’ homes

Although warthogs are perfectly capable of burrowing and creating their own homes, they often get a lazy streak and decide to just rest for the night in other animals’ abandoned homes. They usually burrow in backwards, using their powerful tusks to guard the entrance.

warthog kneeling

Shutterstock

They ‘pray’ often

As far as we know, warthogs haven’t formed any kind of religious groups, but they like to ‘pray’ often. When warthogs ‘pray,’ they will kneel down in a stance that looks like they are praying then root along the ground looking for something to eat.

warthog common myna

Courtesy of Ian White/Flickr.com

They employ the help of cleaners

Warthogs can regularly be seen giving oxpecker birds a lift in the wilderness. These birds land on the warthogs and clean off any fleas and ticks they might have. Mongoose are also known to help clean warthogs while they lay down.

warthog watering hole

Shutterstock

They can go a long time without water

While they aren’t quite camels, warthogs can go seriously long periods of time without drinking water. When the watering holes go away in the dry season, they have been known to go a few months without having anything to drink.

Shutterstock

Shutterstock

Their eyesight isn’t very good

Unfortunately, warthogs can’t see too well, so if they ever happen to charge, you should probably get out of the way. Fortunately, these animals make up for their vision with superior hearing and smell.

warthog and mom

Shutterstock

They are rather intelligent

Like their cousins the pig, warthogs have shown remarkable intelligence. IQ tests show that the swine family is smarter than dogs. Take that Fido!

warthog tusks

Shutterstock

They have two sets of tusks

Warthogs not only have one, but two sets of tusks which can sometimes be hard to see if they are running past or are still juveniles. The lower pair is smaller than the upper pair and become extremely sharp due to constantly rubbing against each other.

warthog warts

Shutterstock

The warts act as padding

The thick warts on the outside of warthogs’ faces are to help protect them in fights. During mating season, male warthogs fight each other with their tusks and the warts act as padding to cushion them.

Want to discover the finer side of Africa? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.


Leave a Comment