Wide range of forested and woodland habitats, from sea level to montane forest (up to 4000 m on Mt Kilimanjaro), with a marked preference for valley bottoms with soft soils and dense vegetation.

Varied and highly adaptable, including roots, tubers, bulbs, corn, fungi, fruit, eggs, invertebrates, birds, small mammals, and carrion.

Very social and territorial species, generally seen in family sounders of 6 to 12, led by a dominant male, with one or more females and their young. When needed, family boars and sows defend piglets cooperatively and aggressively against threats. Males are known to disperse from the natal group and old males may be solitary; females, instead, remain on their natal home range. Bushpigs are predominantly nocturnal, resting during the day, but tend to be more diurnal during the colder months. The species seems to be very adaptable and may even benefit from clearing of forested areas and conversion to cropland.

Reported to be widely hunted either for subsistence or commercial bushmeat trade at local level (urban markets). The species is also considered to be an agricultural pest, or a vector of livestock diseases (e.g. African swine fever, nagana epidemic and sleeping sickness) leading to their decline.

The species is relatively widespread, common, and is present in well-protected areas. Though the bushpig is still relatively widespread, its distribution is patchy in certain regions.

Bushpig projects