“The effect of enclosure design on the nocturnal behaviour of red river hog (Potamochoeus Pofcus) and the potential impacts on welfare.” By Abby Westerside

Red river hogs are the smallest, yet brightest of the hogs present in Africa. Currently, they are listed by ICUN as a species of less concern, although calls are to have this status reviewed. Across the EU and UK, 79 known zoo collections house red river hogs. Evidence of red river hogs being a nocturnal species has varied across the literature with some studies suggesting they are crepuscular. Despite this, zoological collections commonly state their status as nocturnal. This dissertation aimed to evaluate the nocturnal activity budget of red river hogs in two different enclosures at “The Wild Place Project”.

Two sibling hogs aged 10 years old, at The Wild Place Project, were observed in their “old” enclosure and “new” enclosure. The old enclosure was the hog's home 2014-2022 and they moved into their new enclosure in January 2022. An ethogram (list of behaviours) was observed using CCTV cameras from both enclosures using scan and instantaneous recording. The recordings took place from 5:00 pm to 08:00 am.

 

The study found that the two hogs spent significantly more time resting in their new enclosure, in addition, their active behaviour and times not visible decreased. Notably, individual active behaviours such as rooting and eating were significantly increased in the hog's old enclosure. Interestingly, more active behaviours were reported in the old enclosure than the new enclosure indicating a lower nocturnal activity in the new enclosure. Enclosures in zoological collections, aim to replicate the animal's environment to enable them to exhibit their natural behaviours. Therefore, highlighting the significance of this work to better understand red river hog behaviour.

This work opens the question are red river hogs nocturnal? Whilst this study only included two hogs it provides an avenue for future observation studies to be conducted in other zoological collections to help answer this question. Overall, this study agrees with previous literature that red river hogs display crepuscular behaviours rather than nocturnal in their new enclosure.

Summarised by Doctor Issy Lewis, Animal Health Lecturer, Hartpury University.