Wild pigs wreak havoc on crops

Chronicle Reporter

March 28, 2008


WILD pigs are wreaking havoc in Umguza district by destroying crops, sparking fears of a poor harvest this year.
Villagers who spoke to Chronicle yesterday said they have resorted to sleeping in the fields to scare away the marauding pigs.
“Our crops have been destroyed by wild pigs and we are afraid that we will have nothing to harvest this season,†said one of the villagers, Mr Johane Masuku.
He said they had not been expecting much from their fields because the incessant rains also destroyed the crops.
“The rains also destroyed our crops as most places were waterlogged and the little that was left is being destroyed by the pigs,†said Mr Masuku.
The village head of Silas Hope Resettlement Scheme, Mr Hlupheki Mathe, said they were concerned as a majority of the people were spending the nights in the fields putting their lives in danger.
However, he said they have not received reports of people being attacked by the wild animals.
“We are afraid that people could be attacked by wild animals since they are spending nights in their fields. Some have made small shacks in their fields where they are living,†he said.
“We will not get much this year. Some of the maize crop did not grow well and we wasted our seed. We might just get 100kg of maize if we are lucky,†said Mr Mathe.
He said people in two other resettlement areas, Raaffs and Retreat, also faced the same problem.
“Villagers from Raaffs and Retreat also faced the same problem although we do not know to what extent.
“Only a few people have reported that they had their crops destroyed although we believe that there could be more,†he said.

too bad they can't figure out a way to cook and eat the worthless Zim paper currency. seems to be plenty of it to go around. I am sure uncle Bob will find a way to blame the rain and it's affect on the "white devils".

I think that when the farmers leave, there is no-one left to shoot the pigs, which are left to thrive. That is my theory at least. I can imagine baboon must be bad in some areas too, unless the farmers/war 'vets' have access to AKs.

In my book a "wild pig" is a domestic pig with low moral standards!

In seriousness: At best a "wild pig" is a domestic pig that has escaped and have grown wild. "Veral pigs" is perhaps the correct word?

Or is the article referring to "bush bigs"[Potamochoerus larvatus] or to "common warthogs" [\[Phagochoerus africanus]

IMHO to just use the words "wild pigs" where any one of three likely candidates are actually referred to is poor journalism!

In good hunting.

Andrew McLaren

Andrew, "feral" is the word you are looking for.

"Wild pigs" is a term commonly used for bushpigs and, to me, somehow makes a newspaper story more intrigueing.

Sorry for the confusion, when I said pigs, I meant bush pigs, I think most Zimbos call them 'pigs' anyway, same could maybe go for warthogs!

I don't think that Zim has a problem with feral pigs in any way, goats maybe! In times of drought though the warthog take a bit of a hammering. I remeber the drought of 92 or so and seeing many hungry, gaunt, sickly 'vlakkies' wandering around the roads in the lowveld, looking for grazing, was not a pretty sight! Bushpigs are very resourceful yet shy animals, I have seen lots of evidence of them even in Harare around vleis same with common reedbuck and even cape clawless otter! Pigs are always around, but you will never see them during the day (in Harare at least).

Hi Andrew, I agree that it is poor journalism to refer to bushpigs as wild pigs. Their nomenclature is hardly concise! I am pretty certain though that the article is referring to bushpigs, but I could be wrong!

Hi Karoo, I believe that warthog are not true endemics to the Eastern Cape. I know that they seem to be spreading quite widely now in that area under fences, etc. I know they are culled together with kudu quite frequently in the Andries Vosloo Kudu reserve, Double Drift, etc. I know even some of the private reserves have to keep them under raps too. There are obviously not enough predators to keep their numbers down.

As an aside, I believe they are introducing ellies to the Kudu Reserve, I know they have been working on the fences for some time, but not sure when they will bring the elephants in though.

Nzou
You are right about the warthogs not being indigenous to the Eastern Cape. The story goes that a local Nature Conservation official made a mistake in believing, through evidence from an archaeological site, that they were here and organised the reintroduction.
Since then they have multiplied immensely and are a big pest to the farmers.
Luckily they do not like the drier northern part of the province where I farm, but luckily too, I have a friend who borders the Andries Vosloo and so I get to have great (free) pig hunting!