THE BUSH PIG OR BOSCH VARK 



they rarely venture, for they have a profound dread 

 of man. 



An exceptionally large and ferocious old boar is 

 the leader of a small troop of Bush Pigs at Zwart- 

 kops near Port Elizabeth, and, although efforts 

 have been made for several years to hunt him out 

 of his thorny sanctuary, they have failed every time 

 with the sacrifice of many dogs. Dogs which are 

 bold enough to beard him in his retreat, are in- 

 variably killed or badly wounded. We have long 

 coveted this old fellow as a Museum exhibit, but 

 there is every likelihood he will die a peaceful 

 death, or be slain by a younger rival. 



The young are born about midsummer, viz. 

 during the months of December and January ; and 

 a litter usually consists of five or six young ones, 

 although eight and even nine have been observed. 

 Bush Pigs are swift of foot, even on the roughest of 

 ground, and are expert swimmers. 



The male Bush Pig is an exceedingly plucky 

 animal, and when surrounded or brought to bay 

 by dogs, he faces his foes and grimly and silently 

 fights until death overtakes him. A boar is im- 

 mensely strong for his size, and is capable of using 

 his large tusks with the maximum effect. In a 

 combat with an old boar, our casualties were five 

 dogs killed and four wounded, and a Zulu had his 

 thigh ripped open. When pulled down by the 

 pack, with a last expiring effort, he made a terrific 

 side-thrust and disembowelled a dog, slitting it up 



