Hello, hoglets!

August 12, 2022

A baby red river hog at Marwell Zoo

We’re celebrating the arrival of our first ever red river hoglets, born at Marwell on Sunday 7 August. Watch them explore in our video below!

The twins were born to mother Lisla and father Kermit and are already exploring their enclosure between naps. The youngsters have not yet been named.

Red river hoglets have more vivid markings than their adult counterparts. In the wild, rows of pale yellow spots help them to camouflage in long grass and avoid being seen by predators.

Gestation lasts around four months and young are up and on their feet within a few hours of being born.

Ian Goodwin, Animal Collection Manager (hoofstock and carnivores), said: “Red river hogs are a species we’ve not had at Marwell before.

“It was great to bring these inquisitive animals in to diversify our collection, And as a bonus they have gone and produced these piglets which is a great bonus for Marwell and the species.”

Did you know?

  • Female red river hogs are called ‘sounds’ and males are called ‘sounder’
  • Hoglets fully wean onto solid food in around four months
  • Natural predators for red river hogs include leopards, lions, spotted hyena, and pythons

Red river hogs are native to the West and Central African rainforest. They are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Least Concern, although populations are declining in the wild.

When fully grown, adult red river hogs weigh anywhere between 45 and 115kg making them the smallest and most colourful of all the African wild pigs.