Press Release
For Immediate Release
July 20, 2005 |
For More Information
Cynthia Shipley
Supervisor, PR
(416) 392-5938 |
|
WHO'S "HOGGING" THE LIMELIGHT?
IT'S AFRICAN RED RIVER HOGS - 1ST TIME IN CANADA
July 27, 2005, Toronto, Ontario: Toronto Zoo today announced another first for Canadian zoo visitors with the wonderful addition of Red River Hogs, a species typically found in Africa. These unusual animals are now exhibited in the Zoo's African Rainforest Pavilion.
Red River hogs display some characteristics their more common cousins don't have. They can run fast and even swim. During the day they sleep in borrows they dig themselves. And although these social hogs usually live in groups of up to 11 individuals, bands of as many as 60 have been sighted.
Simon and Sabrina are on loan from the San Diego Zoo. It's expected that the pair will be a big hit in their new "digs" in the African Rainforest Pavilion.
Like the river after which they are named, the two newcomers are mostly reddish in colour; however, they have white facial masks and white whiskers. They have leaf-shaped ears that have long black and white tassels and the erectile mane which runs the length of the spine is white. Both of these features are used as defences, as they greatly increase the perceived size of the pig when fluffed out. Both sexes have tusks. On average, they weigh about 100 lb (45 kg).
From west and central Africa below the Sahara and Madagascar, Red River hogs live wherever there is enough rainfall to support dense vegetation. Their gestation period is about four months, with litters averaging four offspring. In diet they are omnivorous. They are not threatened in the wild.
Zoo officials are "rooting" for the popularity of Simon and Sabrina. Drop by the African Rainforest Pavilion and make the acquaintance of this unique couple - we promise you won't be "boared".
