Article by Bryan Lim, NParks Wildlife Management Division
October 2024
Located in the heart of the Old World tropics, Singapore harbours a surprising array of wildlife, including ungulate species of various sizes - ranging from the large Sambar Deer, to the small Lesser Mousedeer. Among these hoofed species, one inhabitant of this urban jungle is the wild boar, a species that offers insights into understanding our urban ecosystem.
Today, the wild boar can be found across a variety of habitats in Singapore - in the mangroves, in the grasslands and in the forest, as a result of their generalist omnivorous diet and their voracious appetite. The wild boar population is a mix of a resident population and individuals which may have swum over (yes, they can swim!) from our neighbouring countries. These natural habitats are sometimes in close proximity to our urban built-up environment. For example, Zhenghua Nature Park is located a mere 25 metres from the Bukit Panjang Estate. Wildlife including wild boars can leave the green spaces to look for new foraging grounds where we reside, making them truly our wild neighbours.
In this short post, we'll delve into understanding the wild boar’s characteristics and ecosystem roles. We'll also discuss the challenges that come with living with these animals in a densely populated metropolis and what to do should we encounter them.
The characteristics of the wild boar
Here are some facts on the wild boars in Singapore:
Physical Characteristics: ● Adult wild boars can weigh up to 140 kilograms, with males typically being larger than females.
● The average weight of wild boars is between 70 and 80 kilograms.
● Only the males sport large sharp tusks that protrude out of their mouths.
Reproduction and Lifespan: ● Wild boars can breed throughout the year, up to 2 times within the year. ● Females give birth to litters of 4 to 8 piglets.
● Piglets are born with distinctive striped coats that provide camouflage, which they will lose as they mature into adulthood.
Social Structure and: Behaviour: ● Wild boars are social animals, often live in matriarchal groups, consisting of females and their offspring. ● Males are generally solitary and territorial, joining these matriarchal groups only during the breeding season. ● Young males, upon maturation, will leave their group to find a new territory to occupy
Photo credit: Bryan Lim
Wild boars in Singapore’s unique ecosystem
Historically in balanced ecosystems to the north and south of Singapore, wild boars played a crucial role as prey (food source) for apex predators such as tigers and leopards. However, Singapore's last Malayan tiger was removed in the 1930s, which means they no longer have natural predators here.
Understanding and accepting this imbalance is essential to grasping the consequences that follow. Without natural predators, a pair of wild boars alone can give birth to up to 16 piglets a year, over time and across many breeding pairs, this will result in exponential population growth.
Singapore is a land-scarce city-state, with limited natural green spaces. Wild boars are territorial animals, with matriarchal groups and lone males, requiring their own space. As part of their natural behaviour, these animals will eventually venture out of their natal territories and into urban environments.
Understanding this dynamic is crucial for managing the wild boar population and mitigating potential human-wildlife conflicts in Singapore.
Human-Wild Boar conflicts
Unlike humans, wild boars do not have smartphones with GPS to navigate from one forest patch to another. As a result, they may often find themselves wandering too far from their familiar dense, quiet forests and into the dizzying cacophony of the city's soundscape and lightscape. Confronted by the bright lights of direct sunlight, street lights, and vehicular lights, and coupled with the constant sounds of traffic and other urban noises, wild boars can become overstimulated and highly stressed.
A stressed wild boar, like all prey animals with a fight or flight response, will either flee or attack, leading to human-wild boar conflicts in Singapore. This can result in vehicular collisions, while attacks on humans or pets can lead to serious injuries. The tusks of male wild boars are capable of goring and slicing through muscle with ease. Consequently, a frightened and panicked wild boar which has ventured into urban areas may pose a safety concern.
If you happen to encounter wild boars, do stay calm and move slowly away. Please keep a safe distance and do not corner or provoke the wild boar, i.e. by using a flash while taking pictures of it. If adult boars are seen with young piglets, leave them alone, do not approach them as they may attempt to defend their young. Please refer to the National Parks Board’s advisory on wild boars.
Conclusion
Singapore's unique ecosystem faces challenges with a growing wild boar population. Whilst wild boars usually remain shy within the forest environments, this behaviour can change when they venture into urban areas and become accustomed to humans, increasing the risk of human-wild boar conflicts. Addressing this issue requires a multi-pronged approach which includes (i) population studies; (ii) public education such as raising awareness about illegal wildlife feeding and what to do when encountering boars, and (iii) population management like habitat modification (e.g., exclusion fencing) and population control where necessary.
A well-built and maintained fence with a solid base can help keep boars out of your property. Photo Credits: Bryan Lim
With these challenges in mind, understanding wild boar populations and behaviour is crucial in order to facilitate the ongoing efforts to balance public safety and animal welfare in Singapore.
Visit our wild boar information page and download our advisory to get tips on what you can do when you encounter one:
Comments