A wild boar is a large, powerful pig that lives in forests and grasslands across Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Unlike the pink farm pigs you might picture, wild boars have coarse, bristly fur (usually dark brown or black), sharp tusks, and a muscular build that helps them survive in the wilderness.

Wild boars are the ancestors of domestic pigs. Thousands of years ago, humans began capturing and breeding wild boars, gradually turning them into the farm animals we know today. But wild boars still roam free in many parts of the world, using their strong snouts to dig up roots, nuts, and insects from the forest floor.

These animals are surprisingly smart and adaptable. They travel in groups called sounders, usually led by an experienced female. Wild boars can be dangerous if threatened: those tusks are genuine weapons used for defense and fighting. In some places, like parts of the southern United States, wild boars (sometimes called feral hogs) have become a serious problem because they damage crops and natural habitats. They're incredibly tough survivors, able to eat almost anything, reproduce quickly, and thrive in diverse environments from snowy mountains to humid swamps.