1 00:00:00,568 --> 00:00:02,422 (playful music) 2 00:00:02,422 --> 00:00:04,012 When you think of pigs, 3 00:00:04,012 --> 00:00:07,305 do you picture mud wallows and pink curly tails? 4 00:00:11,412 --> 00:00:14,055 Lucky symbols and money banks? 5 00:00:15,072 --> 00:00:16,925 Or just bacon sandwiches? 6 00:00:18,712 --> 00:00:22,562 Whatever you think you are probably underestimating 7 00:00:22,562 --> 00:00:24,785 the world's amazing pigs. 8 00:00:27,592 --> 00:00:31,372 To find out how they became our favorite farm animals 9 00:00:31,372 --> 00:00:34,015 we need to visit their cousins in the wild. 10 00:00:36,142 --> 00:00:39,902 Popular culture is full of pig related sayings, 11 00:00:39,902 --> 00:00:42,598 but they are almost all wrong. 12 00:00:42,598 --> 00:00:45,181 (serene music) 13 00:00:46,622 --> 00:00:49,622 A year with wild boars and their relatives 14 00:00:49,622 --> 00:00:53,515 reveals a tender and dedicated matriarchal society. 15 00:00:55,942 --> 00:01:00,075 Playful youngsters, speedy escape artists, 16 00:01:00,952 --> 00:01:03,173 and powerful warriors. 17 00:01:03,173 --> 00:01:05,402 (pigs grunting) 18 00:01:05,402 --> 00:01:07,025 Not telling any porkies. 19 00:01:08,182 --> 00:01:10,945 It's time to meet the pigs. 20 00:01:16,622 --> 00:01:19,965 Pig, swine, hawker. 21 00:01:21,362 --> 00:01:22,935 Hog, piggy. 22 00:01:24,572 --> 00:01:27,932 There's no child on earth that doesn't know 23 00:01:27,932 --> 00:01:29,232 that the pig it goes oink. 24 00:01:31,942 --> 00:01:33,962 Pigs are one of the most recognizable 25 00:01:33,962 --> 00:01:35,935 and iconic of all animals. 26 00:01:36,822 --> 00:01:39,062 And it's hardly surprising. 27 00:01:39,062 --> 00:01:41,365 There are one billion of them on Earth, 28 00:01:42,522 --> 00:01:44,472 and as much as they are loved, 29 00:01:44,472 --> 00:01:46,385 pigs, get a pretty raw deal. 30 00:01:51,692 --> 00:01:55,495 To most they're walking ham, pork, and bacon. 31 00:01:57,642 --> 00:02:00,807 Vital and tasty protein to people around the world. 32 00:02:00,807 --> 00:02:04,830 (lighthearted music) (pig grunting) 33 00:02:04,830 --> 00:02:07,429 But there is more to pigs than meets the eye. 34 00:02:11,092 --> 00:02:14,462 And to reveal their many remarkable properties, 35 00:02:14,462 --> 00:02:17,932 we need to look to their ancestors in the wild. 36 00:02:17,932 --> 00:02:20,515 (serene music) 37 00:02:23,572 --> 00:02:26,692 These huge intimidating animals were legendary 38 00:02:26,692 --> 00:02:28,715 for their ferocity and strength. 39 00:02:30,632 --> 00:02:33,685 They adorned the crest of the most powerful families, 40 00:02:34,882 --> 00:02:39,432 a symbol of fertility, a transport to the gods, 41 00:02:39,432 --> 00:02:41,015 and an icon of war. 42 00:02:47,652 --> 00:02:51,352 Allegedly Alexander the Great sent pigs into battle 43 00:02:51,352 --> 00:02:53,302 to scare off the enemy's elephants 44 00:02:53,302 --> 00:02:54,815 with their shrill squeals. 45 00:03:01,582 --> 00:03:05,645 It may not be true, but the vocal powers of pigs are. 46 00:03:07,432 --> 00:03:09,415 They have higher decibel than a jet. 47 00:03:12,462 --> 00:03:14,142 Just one of the amazing traits 48 00:03:14,142 --> 00:03:16,135 they inherited from their ancestors. 49 00:03:18,234 --> 00:03:20,817 (serene music) 50 00:03:23,422 --> 00:03:26,845 Autumn is the time of the rut for wild boars. 51 00:03:34,882 --> 00:03:37,705 Boar society is actually matriarchal. 52 00:03:40,752 --> 00:03:45,342 The group, known as a sounder, is led by a few females, 53 00:03:45,342 --> 00:03:47,155 the sows and they're young. 54 00:03:52,162 --> 00:03:55,082 The males are solitary for most of the year, 55 00:03:55,082 --> 00:03:59,132 but now as the days shorten and temperatures drop 56 00:03:59,132 --> 00:04:00,805 they seek out the sounders. 57 00:04:06,512 --> 00:04:09,485 They are giants known as boars. 58 00:04:12,370 --> 00:04:13,203 (pig squealing) 59 00:04:13,203 --> 00:04:16,562 The males can top the scales at 200 kilos, 60 00:04:16,562 --> 00:04:18,662 more than twice the weight of the females, 61 00:04:21,092 --> 00:04:24,472 To pass on his genes this prime boar 62 00:04:24,472 --> 00:04:26,605 must line himself up a date. 63 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,839 (upbeat jazz music) 64 00:04:36,272 --> 00:04:40,465 He wallows, churning his personal cologne into the mud, 65 00:04:42,262 --> 00:04:45,812 and using the sticky face pack to fix it to his body. 66 00:04:54,272 --> 00:04:56,982 He has another piggy aftershave in his toolkit 67 00:04:56,982 --> 00:04:59,615 that the females find hard to resist. 68 00:05:03,942 --> 00:05:05,852 He chomps his jaws, 69 00:05:05,852 --> 00:05:08,645 a common communication strategy for all pigs, 70 00:05:10,912 --> 00:05:13,542 but he's doing it to make himself dribble 71 00:05:13,542 --> 00:05:16,445 and to whip the saliva into a sticky foam. 72 00:05:18,842 --> 00:05:21,112 His drool contains a pheromone, 73 00:05:21,112 --> 00:05:24,072 a chemical message telling the females 74 00:05:24,072 --> 00:05:25,515 he's looking for action. 75 00:05:28,662 --> 00:05:31,885 At first they don't seem too impressed. 76 00:05:35,192 --> 00:05:37,775 (pig grunting) 77 00:05:39,134 --> 00:05:41,801 (playful music) 78 00:05:54,902 --> 00:05:56,685 He goes for a bit of nuzzling, 79 00:05:58,202 --> 00:06:00,932 not only improving this one's mood 80 00:06:00,932 --> 00:06:04,415 but sneakily also coating her with this smelly saliva. 81 00:06:05,412 --> 00:06:08,133 He's literally drooling over her. 82 00:06:08,133 --> 00:06:10,800 (playful music) 83 00:06:21,042 --> 00:06:23,625 (pig grunting) 84 00:06:27,122 --> 00:06:30,945 And gradually she seems to be coming round to the idea, 85 00:06:32,112 --> 00:06:34,702 but even though his goal is in sight, 86 00:06:34,702 --> 00:06:37,445 his conquest is far from over. 87 00:06:39,352 --> 00:06:40,685 Another huge boar, 88 00:06:43,652 --> 00:06:45,855 intent on challenging for the title. 89 00:06:49,322 --> 00:06:54,322 He pees and rubs his face on the bushes. 90 00:06:57,822 --> 00:07:00,772 It's like graffitiing over another gang signature marks 91 00:07:00,772 --> 00:07:03,595 with his own, laying claim to the patch. 92 00:07:06,122 --> 00:07:08,970 This is a declaration of war. 93 00:07:08,970 --> 00:07:13,970 (dramatic music) (pigs grunting) 94 00:07:43,062 --> 00:07:46,455 And wild boars are always armed and ready for battle. 95 00:07:48,482 --> 00:07:50,215 They have two sets of tusks. 96 00:07:53,132 --> 00:07:56,275 The smaller, lower tusks are the ones to watch, 97 00:07:57,132 --> 00:07:59,932 sticking out like daggers from the sides of their snout. 98 00:08:02,442 --> 00:08:04,292 These blades are self-sharpening 99 00:08:04,292 --> 00:08:07,465 by rubbing against the bigger, showier upper tusks. 100 00:08:11,048 --> 00:08:16,048 (pigs grunting) (dramatic music) 101 00:08:32,922 --> 00:08:37,832 The rivals aim for the less protected belly and rump. 102 00:08:37,832 --> 00:08:40,085 And it's not long before both are bloodied. 103 00:08:41,135 --> 00:08:43,885 (pigs grunting) 104 00:08:50,482 --> 00:08:52,345 One blow strikes home, 105 00:08:57,147 --> 00:08:59,422 and the injured party limps off, 106 00:08:59,422 --> 00:09:02,265 admitting defeat before things get worse. 107 00:09:05,542 --> 00:09:08,042 The tough victor seems to brush off his wounds 108 00:09:08,042 --> 00:09:12,746 like nothing ever happened and makes his move. 109 00:09:12,746 --> 00:09:15,329 (serene music) 110 00:09:22,092 --> 00:09:25,625 His heroics in battle seem to have impressed. 111 00:09:26,712 --> 00:09:30,135 And this time she allows the mating to go ahead. 112 00:09:34,962 --> 00:09:37,995 It's a strenuous and stressful time for the wild pigs, 113 00:09:39,682 --> 00:09:40,945 but it doesn't last long. 114 00:09:42,747 --> 00:09:45,330 (gentle music) 115 00:10:01,922 --> 00:10:04,745 Soon winter creeps in across the forest. 116 00:10:18,072 --> 00:10:21,852 Wild boar are one of the planet's most widespread 117 00:10:21,852 --> 00:10:23,365 and abundant animals. 118 00:10:24,632 --> 00:10:29,145 Living all across Europe, Northern Africa and Asia, 119 00:10:30,342 --> 00:10:33,022 their thick, double-layer coats help them 120 00:10:33,022 --> 00:10:34,495 to withstand the cold. 121 00:10:35,392 --> 00:10:40,392 (playful music) (pig grunting) 122 00:10:43,682 --> 00:10:47,592 The bristly hairs have long been used by people, 123 00:10:47,592 --> 00:10:49,655 most notably on paint brushes. 124 00:10:51,772 --> 00:10:54,542 Their compact bodies are perfectly condensed 125 00:10:54,542 --> 00:10:56,135 to plow through undergrowth. 126 00:10:58,622 --> 00:11:01,855 But their short legs make deep snow a challenge. 127 00:11:04,342 --> 00:11:06,075 It limits their northern range. 128 00:11:09,912 --> 00:11:13,972 But pigs and their relatives are pretty adaptable 129 00:11:13,972 --> 00:11:16,155 and can thrive almost anywhere. 130 00:11:19,822 --> 00:11:23,902 18 kinds of true wild pigs, like the boars, 131 00:11:23,902 --> 00:11:26,612 and their African cousins warthogs, 132 00:11:26,612 --> 00:11:30,195 have colonized most landmasses and islands of Africa, 133 00:11:31,152 --> 00:11:33,665 Europe and Asia. 134 00:11:35,932 --> 00:11:37,771 But not the Americas. 135 00:11:37,771 --> 00:11:40,354 (twangy music) 136 00:11:41,372 --> 00:11:46,035 Here they have a look alike, a distant relative. 137 00:11:47,772 --> 00:11:50,335 Though not as close as looks might suggest. 138 00:11:52,072 --> 00:11:55,082 Smaller and much lighter than boars, 139 00:11:55,082 --> 00:11:57,115 they have another distinctive feature. 140 00:12:01,782 --> 00:12:04,685 Boars tusks grow out and curve up. 141 00:12:06,862 --> 00:12:11,065 Peccary's are shorter and straighter, pointing down. 142 00:12:12,902 --> 00:12:15,345 They chomp their teeth together to communicate. 143 00:12:18,122 --> 00:12:21,282 Confusingly, peccaries evolved in Europe 144 00:12:21,282 --> 00:12:22,815 and spread across the world. 145 00:12:24,542 --> 00:12:27,592 Perhaps out competed by the true pigs, 146 00:12:27,592 --> 00:12:29,525 they only remained in the Americas. 147 00:12:34,962 --> 00:12:37,212 There are three kinds that have adapted 148 00:12:37,212 --> 00:12:42,212 to make a home in anything from desert to jungle. 149 00:12:42,569 --> 00:12:45,569 (suspenseful music) 150 00:13:01,582 --> 00:13:04,352 These white-lipped peccaries live in groups 151 00:13:04,352 --> 00:13:05,365 known as squadrons, 152 00:13:07,952 --> 00:13:12,035 which contain tens, sometimes hundreds of individuals. 153 00:13:14,342 --> 00:13:18,595 Unlike boars, males and females of all ages live together. 154 00:13:21,622 --> 00:13:24,042 Their sizable squadrons are a defense 155 00:13:24,042 --> 00:13:27,765 against the many large predators that enjoy eating them. 156 00:13:30,572 --> 00:13:32,645 In particular, the jaguar. 157 00:13:33,658 --> 00:13:36,741 (suspenseful music) 158 00:13:41,522 --> 00:13:44,012 Distracted by the muddy soup of tasty roots 159 00:13:44,012 --> 00:13:48,595 and fallen fruits, they don't notice its approach. 160 00:14:04,942 --> 00:14:09,942 But with so many sets of ears, eyes, and sensitive noses, 161 00:14:10,352 --> 00:14:13,112 it's not long before the herd senses 162 00:14:13,112 --> 00:14:14,335 that they are not alone. 163 00:14:20,518 --> 00:14:25,042 One squeal and they're off. 164 00:14:25,042 --> 00:14:28,042 (suspenseful music) 165 00:14:31,700 --> 00:14:34,367 (pig squealing) 166 00:14:44,592 --> 00:14:46,875 While groups can be advantageous, 167 00:14:48,262 --> 00:14:50,925 things are changing for the European wild boars. 168 00:14:53,182 --> 00:14:55,932 While the forest is enjoying the first signs of spring, 169 00:15:00,312 --> 00:15:03,752 a sow has broken away from the protection of her sounder 170 00:15:10,481 --> 00:15:14,231 and builds herself a nest in the undergrowth. 171 00:15:17,322 --> 00:15:19,262 The large noisy group can attract 172 00:15:19,262 --> 00:15:21,475 unwanted attention from predators. 173 00:15:26,442 --> 00:15:30,504 But tucked away she can secretly deliver her young. 174 00:15:30,504 --> 00:15:33,087 (serene music) 175 00:15:39,632 --> 00:15:42,705 For the first week or two they won't leave the nest. 176 00:15:44,022 --> 00:15:47,442 But then, cautiously at first, 177 00:15:47,442 --> 00:15:50,652 a collection of tiny humbug-striped piglets, 178 00:15:50,652 --> 00:15:52,175 or squeakers, emerge. 179 00:15:57,212 --> 00:16:00,212 (inquisitive music) 180 00:16:03,572 --> 00:16:06,022 The adorable go-faster stripes, 181 00:16:06,022 --> 00:16:08,222 the rump suits of baby boars, 182 00:16:08,222 --> 00:16:10,565 help them to camouflage on the forest floor. 183 00:16:12,882 --> 00:16:14,132 That's if they sit still. 184 00:16:15,089 --> 00:16:17,756 (playful music) 185 00:16:36,352 --> 00:16:40,162 As if turbocharged, they seem to adapt effortlessly 186 00:16:40,162 --> 00:16:41,685 to their new surroundings. 187 00:16:53,902 --> 00:16:55,215 It's a cold arrival. 188 00:16:56,772 --> 00:16:58,515 There are still patches of snow. 189 00:17:01,312 --> 00:17:03,692 But thanks to their mother's milk, 190 00:17:03,692 --> 00:17:06,162 which is dished up throughout the day, 191 00:17:06,162 --> 00:17:07,495 they will quickly bulk up. 192 00:17:08,625 --> 00:17:11,292 (pigs grunting) 193 00:17:19,502 --> 00:17:21,765 There's a healthy half dozen youngsters. 194 00:17:23,152 --> 00:17:26,032 And this was one of the features that made pigs attractive 195 00:17:26,032 --> 00:17:27,275 as farm animals. 196 00:17:28,562 --> 00:17:32,022 Encouraged through eons of selective breeding, 197 00:17:32,022 --> 00:17:35,185 domestic pigs can churn out huge litters. 198 00:17:36,232 --> 00:17:40,485 The biggest recorded was a whopping 37 piglets. 199 00:17:41,522 --> 00:17:43,715 And they can have babies twice a year. 200 00:17:45,032 --> 00:17:46,972 Pigs have always been a reliable way 201 00:17:46,972 --> 00:17:49,648 for farmers to keep their larders full. 202 00:17:49,648 --> 00:17:52,648 (inquisitive music) 203 00:17:57,962 --> 00:18:00,695 The little piglets follow their mother everywhere, 204 00:18:14,032 --> 00:18:15,545 copying what she does. 205 00:18:18,692 --> 00:18:21,662 And in this way learning where to sniff out 206 00:18:21,662 --> 00:18:23,095 and identify food. 207 00:18:24,762 --> 00:18:27,715 They start nibbling at solids almost straight away, 208 00:18:30,442 --> 00:18:32,232 even though they'll have milk on tap 209 00:18:32,232 --> 00:18:33,745 for two or three months. 210 00:18:47,152 --> 00:18:49,465 It's not always easy to focus on the lessons. 211 00:18:50,470 --> 00:18:53,137 (playful music) 212 00:19:22,552 --> 00:19:24,875 Life is one endless game of chase, 213 00:19:27,022 --> 00:19:28,535 and that's just as well. 214 00:19:31,102 --> 00:19:32,585 Boars are tough prey, 215 00:19:34,882 --> 00:19:36,692 but the little ones can be picked off 216 00:19:36,692 --> 00:19:40,384 by wildcats, lynx, or foxes. 217 00:19:40,384 --> 00:19:43,134 (dramatic music) 218 00:19:51,502 --> 00:19:55,302 Being competitive runners might someday help them 219 00:19:55,302 --> 00:19:56,465 race for life. 220 00:20:00,794 --> 00:20:03,794 (suspenseful music) 221 00:20:17,092 --> 00:20:21,332 Fortunately for most boars, the mother is diligent 222 00:20:21,332 --> 00:20:23,482 and won't hesitate to chase off any threat. 223 00:20:32,038 --> 00:20:34,422 (gentle music) 224 00:20:34,422 --> 00:20:35,875 Life is tough for pigs. 225 00:20:38,682 --> 00:20:40,585 They are good at defending themselves, 226 00:20:43,372 --> 00:20:45,705 but they have some formidable enemies. 227 00:20:49,562 --> 00:20:54,562 Not just wild cats and foxes, but lynx, wolves, even tigers. 228 00:20:59,052 --> 00:21:01,899 It's perhaps hardest for the brave pigs 229 00:21:01,899 --> 00:21:05,455 who have ventured out onto the open African plains. 230 00:21:06,742 --> 00:21:10,125 The greatest assemblage of predators shares this habitat. 231 00:21:13,539 --> 00:21:17,302 Servals, hunting dogs, 232 00:21:17,302 --> 00:21:19,835 hyenas, leopards, 233 00:21:23,362 --> 00:21:28,235 cheetahs, and lions. 234 00:21:34,082 --> 00:21:37,512 Warthogs are the only pigs adapted entirely 235 00:21:37,512 --> 00:21:38,995 to the grass plains. 236 00:21:41,022 --> 00:21:42,892 Though their necks are so short 237 00:21:42,892 --> 00:21:45,845 that they often have to kneel to graze close to the ground. 238 00:21:49,702 --> 00:21:53,915 Like the boars, these wild pigs have matriarchal sounders. 239 00:21:56,292 --> 00:21:59,012 They have their young in underground burrows, 240 00:21:59,012 --> 00:22:02,615 but sooner or later, the little ones must venture out. 241 00:22:07,752 --> 00:22:10,422 Though their litters are quite small, 242 00:22:10,422 --> 00:22:12,042 there are enough piglets for everyone 243 00:22:12,042 --> 00:22:13,585 to find a sparring partner. 244 00:22:14,702 --> 00:22:17,793 And the piggy zest for life is as strong as ever. 245 00:22:17,793 --> 00:22:20,712 (suspenseful music) 246 00:22:20,712 --> 00:22:24,215 But fun and games are risky where there is nowhere to hide. 247 00:22:29,552 --> 00:22:31,942 Warthog piglets are fast. 248 00:22:31,942 --> 00:22:34,772 In fact, these African athletes 249 00:22:34,772 --> 00:22:37,105 top nearly 50 kilometers an hour. 250 00:22:40,502 --> 00:22:44,552 But still an easy meal for the fastest animal on land. 251 00:22:46,697 --> 00:22:50,372 (suspenseful music) 252 00:22:50,372 --> 00:22:52,675 Unless the family has anything to do with it. 253 00:22:56,592 --> 00:22:58,539 Hog heroics. 254 00:22:58,539 --> 00:23:01,289 (dramatic music) 255 00:23:02,592 --> 00:23:04,625 Her rescue efforts are paying off, 256 00:23:08,962 --> 00:23:11,972 but the cheetah gang, or coalition, 257 00:23:11,972 --> 00:23:13,495 combine their efforts. 258 00:23:15,142 --> 00:23:19,248 By baiting the mother, one cheetah draws her away. 259 00:23:19,248 --> 00:23:21,998 (dramatic music) 260 00:23:56,901 --> 00:23:59,401 (pig squeals) 261 00:24:02,382 --> 00:24:07,055 She did her best, but outnumbered, it wasn't enough. 262 00:24:11,912 --> 00:24:14,545 Pig families can have a hard start in life. 263 00:24:15,923 --> 00:24:18,892 (playful music) 264 00:24:18,892 --> 00:24:20,732 But after a few weeks, 265 00:24:20,732 --> 00:24:24,672 the mother wild boar is ready to introduce her family 266 00:24:24,672 --> 00:24:25,905 to the rest of the gang. 267 00:24:28,752 --> 00:24:30,125 It's excitement all around. 268 00:24:33,382 --> 00:24:35,782 Several of the sows have litters. 269 00:24:35,782 --> 00:24:39,665 So suddenly the humbugs have even more playmates. 270 00:24:53,342 --> 00:24:56,085 As they grow the games get rougher. 271 00:24:57,812 --> 00:25:00,479 (pigs grunting) 272 00:25:04,822 --> 00:25:07,292 Pigs have strict hierarchies. 273 00:25:07,292 --> 00:25:09,262 And even at this tender age 274 00:25:09,262 --> 00:25:11,362 they are starting to establish their rank. 275 00:25:14,402 --> 00:25:18,845 Squabbling is a life skill, and this is boot camp. 276 00:25:24,472 --> 00:25:26,532 Joining the litters together means 277 00:25:26,532 --> 00:25:29,885 there are more powerful mothers to defend their little ones, 278 00:25:30,722 --> 00:25:33,505 but it also means there are babysitters. 279 00:25:35,272 --> 00:25:38,312 The sows can drop off their kids with the sitter 280 00:25:38,312 --> 00:25:39,895 and have a well-earned break. 281 00:25:40,779 --> 00:25:43,529 (pigs grunting) 282 00:25:48,452 --> 00:25:50,415 Coming back in time for tea. 283 00:25:59,382 --> 00:26:02,132 The high energy piggies are hard work, 284 00:26:02,132 --> 00:26:05,366 and mums can get a bit fed up and heavy handed. 285 00:26:05,366 --> 00:26:08,116 (pig squealing) 286 00:26:08,968 --> 00:26:10,618 But the youngsters have to learn. 287 00:26:13,482 --> 00:26:15,712 They need to master etiquette 288 00:26:15,712 --> 00:26:17,395 so they can stand their ground, 289 00:26:19,342 --> 00:26:24,095 learn to stay safe, and figure out what to eat. 290 00:26:26,922 --> 00:26:29,995 Which in the case of pigs, it's just about anything. 291 00:26:36,482 --> 00:26:39,202 Collared peccaries, or javalinas, 292 00:26:39,202 --> 00:26:40,815 in Arizona watch their step. 293 00:26:41,856 --> 00:26:44,523 (playful music) 294 00:26:47,272 --> 00:26:48,755 Their food has bite. 295 00:26:51,052 --> 00:26:55,762 These desert hog-a-likes specialize in eating cactus. 296 00:26:55,762 --> 00:26:57,175 But it's an acquired skill. 297 00:27:01,642 --> 00:27:05,022 When cholla cactus want to make baby cactuses 298 00:27:05,022 --> 00:27:07,412 they produce little detachable burrs 299 00:27:07,412 --> 00:27:10,182 that seek piggybacks on the peccaries. 300 00:27:13,862 --> 00:27:16,352 The adults know to be careful, 301 00:27:16,352 --> 00:27:18,795 but naive youngsters fall foul. 302 00:27:21,812 --> 00:27:24,265 It won't take them long to get the point. 303 00:27:28,302 --> 00:27:32,192 In a way, the piglets are doing the cactus a favor 304 00:27:32,192 --> 00:27:34,015 and distributing its offspring, 305 00:27:35,592 --> 00:27:39,385 which also serves to propagate future crops for themselves. 306 00:27:40,822 --> 00:27:44,282 Some even say the peccaries are farmers, 307 00:27:44,282 --> 00:27:47,312 claiming they deliberately spit out a few seeds 308 00:27:47,312 --> 00:27:50,522 when they are feeding to plant future crops 309 00:27:50,522 --> 00:27:53,682 and carry other seeds further in their droppings, 310 00:27:53,682 --> 00:27:55,105 helping the plant spread. 311 00:27:57,142 --> 00:28:00,422 The way they feed ensures there will be plenty 312 00:28:00,422 --> 00:28:01,855 more food in the future. 313 00:28:04,992 --> 00:28:07,632 Peccary's stomachs are a little more complex 314 00:28:07,632 --> 00:28:09,222 than other pigs. 315 00:28:09,222 --> 00:28:11,065 More like other hoofed animals. 316 00:28:13,912 --> 00:28:17,762 But pigs have a simple stomach, not unlike humans, 317 00:28:17,762 --> 00:28:21,215 and like us can eat just about anything. 318 00:28:22,141 --> 00:28:24,724 (bright music) 319 00:28:26,742 --> 00:28:30,462 As summer progresses, the diet of the young wild boars 320 00:28:30,462 --> 00:28:33,555 gets more and more varied with the changing seasons. 321 00:28:35,752 --> 00:28:36,585 Flowers. 322 00:28:38,132 --> 00:28:38,965 Fruit. 323 00:28:43,012 --> 00:28:43,955 Snails. 324 00:28:45,512 --> 00:28:48,279 Anything their sensitive snouts can sniff out. 325 00:28:51,122 --> 00:28:52,645 All can make a good meal. 326 00:28:56,602 --> 00:29:00,482 Pigs have some unique tools to help them find food. 327 00:29:00,482 --> 00:29:03,225 Something the piglets are learning to master. 328 00:29:05,838 --> 00:29:08,692 (pig sniffing) 329 00:29:08,692 --> 00:29:10,652 Their snouts are long and strong 330 00:29:10,652 --> 00:29:12,952 to plow furrows in the leaf litter 331 00:29:12,952 --> 00:29:14,485 and to dig out treats. 332 00:29:17,472 --> 00:29:20,392 And they are tipped with a unique discs. 333 00:29:20,392 --> 00:29:22,745 Only pigs and peccaries have these. 334 00:29:29,438 --> 00:29:31,552 (pig squealing) 335 00:29:31,552 --> 00:29:35,625 It's sensitive and mobile, and yet incredibly tough. 336 00:29:38,462 --> 00:29:41,152 The long nose is packed with sensors, 337 00:29:41,152 --> 00:29:44,385 giving them a formidable food locating sense of smell. 338 00:29:47,022 --> 00:29:50,475 Some 2,000 times more sensitive than ours. 339 00:29:54,788 --> 00:29:56,512 (pig grunting) 340 00:29:56,512 --> 00:29:59,082 It's this skill that has led to pigs 341 00:29:59,082 --> 00:30:02,875 being used to sniff out valuable truffles. 342 00:30:02,875 --> 00:30:05,458 (pig grunting) 343 00:30:14,342 --> 00:30:16,725 Boars are incredibly strong. 344 00:30:23,032 --> 00:30:25,435 Just a flick of their head can shift a log, 345 00:30:26,622 --> 00:30:29,785 or another boar, to get it food underneath. 346 00:30:35,552 --> 00:30:39,002 By log tossing they can locate insect grubs 347 00:30:39,002 --> 00:30:40,952 that were borrowing in the rotten wood. 348 00:30:43,732 --> 00:30:47,275 And after a feast the youngsters have another lesson. 349 00:30:50,772 --> 00:30:52,385 Time for the beauty regime. 350 00:30:54,722 --> 00:30:57,082 It's no coincidence we have the phrase 351 00:30:57,082 --> 00:30:58,785 as happy as a pig in mud. 352 00:31:00,352 --> 00:31:03,555 The whole clan loves nothing better than a good wallow. 353 00:31:09,632 --> 00:31:12,192 But it's not because they're dirty animals. 354 00:31:12,192 --> 00:31:13,315 Quite the contrary. 355 00:31:14,872 --> 00:31:16,832 How many mums yell to their kids 356 00:31:16,832 --> 00:31:18,595 your room looks like a pig sty. 357 00:31:19,922 --> 00:31:24,025 It's ironic, because pigs are fastidiously clean. 358 00:31:28,982 --> 00:31:32,452 They establish latrines, community toilets, 359 00:31:32,452 --> 00:31:35,605 so they never have dirt by their food or sleeping quarters. 360 00:31:36,882 --> 00:31:39,932 They have even been known to wash their food. 361 00:31:39,932 --> 00:31:44,932 (water sloshing) (pigs grunting) 362 00:31:48,932 --> 00:31:52,332 Pigs can't sweat or pant as a dog would, 363 00:31:52,332 --> 00:31:54,742 to regulate their temperature. 364 00:31:54,742 --> 00:31:58,352 But as the mud dries the evaporating air 365 00:31:58,352 --> 00:31:59,875 helps to cool them down. 366 00:32:02,472 --> 00:32:05,492 And the generous mud pack smothers ticks 367 00:32:05,492 --> 00:32:08,615 and prevents biting insects from reaching their skin. 368 00:32:16,222 --> 00:32:18,992 And what could be better to finish off the treatment 369 00:32:18,992 --> 00:32:20,655 than a good rubdown and scratch? 370 00:32:29,392 --> 00:32:31,792 The piglets are growing fast. 371 00:32:31,792 --> 00:32:33,812 Their stripes are starting to fade 372 00:32:33,812 --> 00:32:35,935 as they molt into their adult colors. 373 00:32:41,282 --> 00:32:43,572 Their squabbles are a bit rougher now, 374 00:32:43,572 --> 00:32:45,815 with social boundaries being enforced. 375 00:32:46,963 --> 00:32:50,282 (pig squealing) 376 00:32:50,282 --> 00:32:53,902 Especially among males, practicing the moves they'll need 377 00:32:53,902 --> 00:32:55,775 to impress the girls in the future. 378 00:32:58,242 --> 00:33:01,142 Young pigs learn through trial and error. 379 00:33:01,142 --> 00:33:03,895 Curiosity drives their exploration. 380 00:33:05,092 --> 00:33:06,932 For this young warthog 381 00:33:06,932 --> 00:33:10,008 it leads to an extraordinary discovery. 382 00:33:10,008 --> 00:33:12,092 (playful music) 383 00:33:12,092 --> 00:33:14,475 What is this? A moving rock? 384 00:33:16,482 --> 00:33:18,205 A giant mobile pine cone? 385 00:33:22,105 --> 00:33:25,962 The pangolin, one of the shyest, sweetest animals, 386 00:33:25,962 --> 00:33:28,045 is a totally harmless anteater. 387 00:33:33,112 --> 00:33:36,892 Its fur has evolved into a series of fingernail-like scales 388 00:33:36,892 --> 00:33:38,745 that help protect it from predators. 389 00:33:44,712 --> 00:33:46,712 The hogs aren't sure what to make of it. 390 00:33:48,712 --> 00:33:50,792 But it's important to figure out 391 00:33:50,792 --> 00:33:52,985 who is friend and who is foe. 392 00:33:55,262 --> 00:33:58,005 And to avoid wandering too far from home. 393 00:33:59,622 --> 00:34:01,645 This sounder is in trouble. 394 00:34:03,902 --> 00:34:06,732 Though often viewed as lowly scavengers, 395 00:34:06,732 --> 00:34:09,352 hyenas are actually the most efficient 396 00:34:09,352 --> 00:34:11,095 big predators on the plains, 397 00:34:12,062 --> 00:34:16,185 using combined forces to separate and overpower prey. 398 00:34:23,332 --> 00:34:27,460 Once again, mum's not going down without a fight. 399 00:34:27,460 --> 00:34:30,322 (dramatic music) 400 00:34:30,322 --> 00:34:32,602 The pigs are not only fast, 401 00:34:32,602 --> 00:34:35,415 but can turn on a dime to dodge the attackers. 402 00:34:39,382 --> 00:34:40,582 But they're outnumbered. 403 00:34:43,442 --> 00:34:46,612 Once those bone crushing jaws have latched on 404 00:34:46,612 --> 00:34:48,548 it's already too late. 405 00:34:48,548 --> 00:34:51,298 (pigs squealing) 406 00:35:01,311 --> 00:35:04,311 (suspenseful music) 407 00:35:06,892 --> 00:35:10,535 For all piggy families, the months are rolling past. 408 00:35:13,122 --> 00:35:15,022 The seasons bring changes 409 00:35:15,022 --> 00:35:17,175 that the youngsters must learn to exploit. 410 00:35:25,822 --> 00:35:28,892 In the baking heat of the Arizona desert, 411 00:35:28,892 --> 00:35:31,972 the prickly neighbors that have been making life tough 412 00:35:31,972 --> 00:35:34,935 for the residents are about to pay out. 413 00:35:36,542 --> 00:35:39,472 The cacti produce sweet treats. 414 00:35:39,472 --> 00:35:42,092 They're gift packages for the wildlife, 415 00:35:42,092 --> 00:35:44,595 a fee for distributing their seeds. 416 00:35:47,312 --> 00:35:49,662 They're not easy for little trotters to get to, 417 00:35:51,222 --> 00:35:54,072 but fortunately the birds and the squirrels 418 00:35:54,072 --> 00:35:56,645 that can reach them can be a little clumsy. 419 00:35:58,252 --> 00:36:01,535 A calorie rich and thirst quenching snack. 420 00:36:02,453 --> 00:36:05,036 (gentle music) 421 00:36:06,562 --> 00:36:08,145 Just what the peccaries needed. 422 00:36:14,662 --> 00:36:17,862 The forests of Europe are even more generous 423 00:36:17,862 --> 00:36:20,795 as autumn colors are rolled out across the landscape. 424 00:36:27,292 --> 00:36:30,335 The trees send out their seeds as acorns and nuts. 425 00:36:31,627 --> 00:36:34,210 (gentle music) 426 00:36:39,676 --> 00:36:41,722 A feast for the sensitive noses 427 00:36:41,722 --> 00:36:43,525 of the wild boar to root out. 428 00:36:47,512 --> 00:36:50,315 There's fierce competition for the best morsels. 429 00:36:51,314 --> 00:36:53,981 (playful music) 430 00:37:00,642 --> 00:37:03,292 The youngsters were weaned at three months old 431 00:37:03,292 --> 00:37:06,765 and join in the feast, tearing around and scrapping. 432 00:37:09,662 --> 00:37:12,419 Their go-faster stripes have all but vanished now, 433 00:37:13,892 --> 00:37:17,245 replaced by a denser coat for the colder months ahead. 434 00:37:21,782 --> 00:37:24,452 They're behaving ever more like adults, 435 00:37:24,452 --> 00:37:26,952 even trying to mount other members of the sounder. 436 00:37:31,792 --> 00:37:34,872 They are less than a year from sexual maturity, 437 00:37:34,872 --> 00:37:38,183 but for now are mostly going through the motions. 438 00:37:38,183 --> 00:37:40,850 (pigs grunting) 439 00:37:43,432 --> 00:37:47,192 With the arrival of shorter days and colder temperatures 440 00:37:47,192 --> 00:37:50,065 comes the appearance of the big male boars again. 441 00:37:54,152 --> 00:37:55,972 Having the big boars hanging around 442 00:37:55,972 --> 00:37:59,402 and strutting their stuff seems to cause great excitement 443 00:37:59,402 --> 00:38:00,402 for the little ones. 444 00:38:03,612 --> 00:38:05,552 But the seasons have other meanings 445 00:38:05,552 --> 00:38:07,355 the young boars need to learn. 446 00:38:11,137 --> 00:38:13,172 (gunshot pops) (pig squealing) 447 00:38:13,172 --> 00:38:15,815 It's the start of the hunting season. 448 00:38:17,812 --> 00:38:21,042 As much loved as farmed pork and bacon are, 449 00:38:21,042 --> 00:38:23,205 there still a drive for wild game. 450 00:38:25,838 --> 00:38:27,972 And the animals are shot as pests 451 00:38:27,972 --> 00:38:31,745 to reduce their impact on managed habitats and farmland. 452 00:38:34,452 --> 00:38:37,542 And especially the misgrowing fears over the transfer 453 00:38:37,542 --> 00:38:41,942 of diseases like swine fever from the wild animals 454 00:38:41,942 --> 00:38:43,585 to their domestic cousins. 455 00:38:47,682 --> 00:38:50,265 (serene music) 456 00:38:53,322 --> 00:38:56,485 This youngster was shot as part of a cull. 457 00:38:58,662 --> 00:39:00,195 His body is left to rot, 458 00:39:02,892 --> 00:39:04,292 but it wouldn't go to waste. 459 00:39:07,542 --> 00:39:09,635 It's a meat mountain for the hungry. 460 00:39:12,282 --> 00:39:14,842 Welcome food for scavengers like crows 461 00:39:16,332 --> 00:39:20,995 and even eagles, preparing them for the winter months ahead. 462 00:39:23,406 --> 00:39:26,302 (pig grunting) 463 00:39:26,302 --> 00:39:28,442 For survivors who learned to lie low 464 00:39:28,442 --> 00:39:33,415 and watch out for humans, the breeding season can commence. 465 00:39:36,092 --> 00:39:38,842 (pigs grunting) 466 00:39:39,842 --> 00:39:42,612 It takes about four years for these impressive hogs 467 00:39:42,612 --> 00:39:45,325 to have the muscle to fight for mating rights. 468 00:39:47,772 --> 00:39:49,922 But they are so preoccupied with each other 469 00:39:51,402 --> 00:39:53,815 that they don't notice a youngster sneak in. 470 00:39:55,062 --> 00:39:57,562 He's only one of last year's piglets, 471 00:39:57,562 --> 00:40:00,132 but a bit of brainpower and stealth 472 00:40:00,132 --> 00:40:01,432 and he's jumped the queue. 473 00:40:02,852 --> 00:40:04,465 Pigs are smart. 474 00:40:05,372 --> 00:40:08,185 Perhaps as intelligent as a three-year-old child. 475 00:40:09,542 --> 00:40:12,372 In terms of learning tricks and routines, 476 00:40:12,372 --> 00:40:14,615 pigs are kings among animals, 477 00:40:15,532 --> 00:40:18,215 beaten only by apes and dolphins. 478 00:40:21,012 --> 00:40:25,315 Sneaky stealth has got this one an early chance to breed. 479 00:40:27,232 --> 00:40:28,762 And that is one of the traits 480 00:40:28,762 --> 00:40:31,595 people found attractive about wild pigs. 481 00:40:33,062 --> 00:40:35,082 They mature quickly. 482 00:40:35,082 --> 00:40:37,082 And so if you keep a few 483 00:40:37,082 --> 00:40:39,905 you don't have to wait long for your assets to grow. 484 00:40:44,432 --> 00:40:48,652 Around 10,000 years ago, people were making a transition 485 00:40:48,652 --> 00:40:52,495 from being nomadic hunter-gatherers to sedentary farmers. 486 00:40:54,172 --> 00:40:58,342 Around the same time, perhaps 9,000 years ago, 487 00:40:58,342 --> 00:41:01,222 wild pigs were kept and bred into domestic forms 488 00:41:01,222 --> 00:41:04,332 in both the Middle East and China, 489 00:41:04,332 --> 00:41:08,012 and brought it to Europe several thousand years ago, 490 00:41:08,012 --> 00:41:09,802 where their genes were topped up 491 00:41:09,802 --> 00:41:12,185 with the hardy European wild boars. 492 00:41:17,392 --> 00:41:20,482 With a few thousand years of selective breeding 493 00:41:20,482 --> 00:41:23,622 they have become bigger and even faster breeding 494 00:41:23,622 --> 00:41:25,244 than their wild cousins. 495 00:41:25,244 --> 00:41:27,994 (pigs grunting) 496 00:41:29,852 --> 00:41:33,442 Young domestic pigs reach puberty around five months 497 00:41:34,812 --> 00:41:38,505 and female pigs can come into season throughout the year. 498 00:41:41,302 --> 00:41:45,722 For wild ancestors, the window for reproductive success 499 00:41:45,722 --> 00:41:47,085 is much more limited. 500 00:41:48,522 --> 00:41:51,445 The last thing they need are any interruptions. 501 00:41:55,892 --> 00:41:59,732 But pigs are tasty, not just to humans, 502 00:41:59,732 --> 00:42:01,576 but to all big predators. 503 00:42:01,576 --> 00:42:04,576 (suspenseful music) 504 00:42:08,232 --> 00:42:13,232 On the African plains it's lions who are enemy number one. 505 00:42:14,566 --> 00:42:17,316 (dramatic music) 506 00:42:48,441 --> 00:42:51,782 The lean tasty meat of the powerful porkers 507 00:42:51,782 --> 00:42:53,005 is worth fighting for. 508 00:42:59,592 --> 00:43:03,272 And it's not always the lion that brings home the bacon 509 00:43:03,272 --> 00:43:05,207 that gets to enjoy it. 510 00:43:05,207 --> 00:43:07,790 (lion roaring) 511 00:43:11,672 --> 00:43:14,102 High reward for meat-eaters, 512 00:43:14,102 --> 00:43:17,095 but a heavy burden for the planet's pigs. 513 00:43:23,682 --> 00:43:28,160 But as vegetarians, pigs are far from squeaky clean. 514 00:43:28,160 --> 00:43:30,743 (serene music) 515 00:43:32,612 --> 00:43:37,185 On a European meadow, a horse has died of natural causes. 516 00:43:39,452 --> 00:43:41,975 Ravens and foxes are quickly on the scene. 517 00:43:43,622 --> 00:43:46,992 But there's a bigger scavenger wanting to get in on the act. 518 00:43:49,942 --> 00:43:54,632 Boars and their domestic cousins will readily scavenge, 519 00:43:54,632 --> 00:43:58,035 even kill small prey, to top up on calories, 520 00:43:59,782 --> 00:44:01,695 much to the raven's disgust. 521 00:44:09,202 --> 00:44:13,085 The pig's broad diet was another draw for farming humans. 522 00:44:15,532 --> 00:44:19,632 Any plant or animal waste from the farm could be recycled, 523 00:44:19,632 --> 00:44:21,845 converted to protein by a pig. 524 00:44:24,062 --> 00:44:25,882 Their adaptability meant pigs 525 00:44:25,882 --> 00:44:27,852 could be farmed pretty much anywhere 526 00:44:29,132 --> 00:44:32,245 and traveled with people as they colonize the globe. 527 00:44:34,162 --> 00:44:36,662 But the piggy power to adapt 528 00:44:36,662 --> 00:44:38,935 was an environmental disaster. 529 00:44:41,572 --> 00:44:44,322 Areas with native pigs have evolved with them 530 00:44:44,322 --> 00:44:45,982 over millions of years 531 00:44:45,982 --> 00:44:49,135 and can cope or even benefit from their presence. 532 00:44:51,362 --> 00:44:53,952 But people shipped their pigs to parts of the world 533 00:44:53,952 --> 00:44:55,535 where they didn't belong. 534 00:44:58,662 --> 00:45:00,425 For island hopping sailors, 535 00:45:01,362 --> 00:45:03,785 pigs were the perfect living lunchboxes. 536 00:45:04,682 --> 00:45:06,422 Ships could turf out the pigs 537 00:45:07,942 --> 00:45:10,022 and wherever they were in the world 538 00:45:10,022 --> 00:45:11,522 the pigs would set forth 539 00:45:11,522 --> 00:45:15,202 and feed themselves on the local plants and animals. 540 00:45:15,202 --> 00:45:18,782 And they would breed, providing sailors and settlers 541 00:45:18,782 --> 00:45:20,105 with plenty of food. 542 00:45:23,022 --> 00:45:25,292 But they'd also run amuck. 543 00:45:25,292 --> 00:45:27,952 And in places without large predators 544 00:45:27,952 --> 00:45:30,202 there was nothing to limit their populations. 545 00:45:33,152 --> 00:45:36,705 These pigs on the run would eat anything in their path, 546 00:45:38,762 --> 00:45:41,425 which was particularly devastating on islands. 547 00:45:42,322 --> 00:45:45,432 Like Galapagos, where they feasted on the eggs 548 00:45:45,432 --> 00:45:47,385 and young of giant tortoises. 549 00:45:51,892 --> 00:45:54,372 Or islands with ground nesting birds, 550 00:45:54,372 --> 00:45:56,295 like the penguins of South Georgia. 551 00:45:59,762 --> 00:46:02,172 Here pigs were introduced to provide food 552 00:46:02,172 --> 00:46:04,005 for remote whaling stations. 553 00:46:07,502 --> 00:46:09,715 It took a heavy toll on wildlife, 554 00:46:11,112 --> 00:46:13,165 a pattern repeated around the globe. 555 00:46:17,392 --> 00:46:19,712 Flightless and ground nesting birds 556 00:46:19,712 --> 00:46:23,032 had no knowledge or fear of the porcine invasion 557 00:46:23,032 --> 00:46:24,515 and were sitting ducks. 558 00:46:28,452 --> 00:46:31,539 Hundreds of species were wiped out. 559 00:46:31,539 --> 00:46:34,122 (pig grunting) 560 00:46:39,172 --> 00:46:41,872 In Australia, pigs not only munched 561 00:46:41,872 --> 00:46:44,112 the unique native wildlife, 562 00:46:44,112 --> 00:46:46,232 but also trampled and uprooted 563 00:46:46,232 --> 00:46:48,655 the fragile plant ecosystems too. 564 00:46:53,952 --> 00:46:56,652 Their desire for water and muddy wallows 565 00:46:56,652 --> 00:46:59,155 can destroy whole wetland ecologies. 566 00:47:01,462 --> 00:47:03,902 On the Australian continent alone, 567 00:47:03,902 --> 00:47:06,555 there are 24 million wild pigs. 568 00:47:08,952 --> 00:47:11,495 There are now feral pigs all over the world. 569 00:47:13,332 --> 00:47:15,602 They are considered one of the most damaging 570 00:47:15,602 --> 00:47:17,445 invasive species on the planet. 571 00:47:19,522 --> 00:47:22,052 There are many eradication programs, 572 00:47:22,052 --> 00:47:25,902 but as we've seen pigs are intelligent, cunning, 573 00:47:25,902 --> 00:47:27,905 fast, and fast to breed. 574 00:47:30,352 --> 00:47:33,685 So even heavy hunting rarely manages to wipe them out. 575 00:47:36,802 --> 00:47:39,612 Interestingly, it only takes a few generations 576 00:47:39,612 --> 00:47:42,662 of breeding in the wild for feral pigs 577 00:47:42,662 --> 00:47:45,062 to start to resemble the thick-shouldered, 578 00:47:45,062 --> 00:47:48,645 hairy-bodied forms or their wild boar ancestors. 579 00:47:50,282 --> 00:47:52,722 It shows just how strong and successful 580 00:47:52,722 --> 00:47:55,055 the genes of wild pigs really are. 581 00:48:00,082 --> 00:48:01,572 And where they do belong, 582 00:48:01,572 --> 00:48:04,242 like in the ancient forests of Europe, 583 00:48:04,242 --> 00:48:07,725 boars play a vital role in keeping the environment healthy. 584 00:48:09,702 --> 00:48:11,462 Being prey to some species 585 00:48:16,722 --> 00:48:19,009 and predators to others. 586 00:48:19,009 --> 00:48:21,592 (serene music) 587 00:48:25,602 --> 00:48:28,332 Through their foraging they disperse seeds 588 00:48:28,332 --> 00:48:30,335 and weed out abundant plants, 589 00:48:33,922 --> 00:48:36,412 increasing species diversity of everything 590 00:48:36,412 --> 00:48:38,855 from flowers to butterflies. 591 00:48:45,362 --> 00:48:49,462 They churn, aerate, and enrich the soil, 592 00:48:49,462 --> 00:48:52,279 in turn increasing tree growth. 593 00:48:56,002 --> 00:48:58,192 (pig squealing) 594 00:48:58,192 --> 00:49:00,572 Pigs are amazing. 595 00:49:00,572 --> 00:49:02,942 They enrich their own environments 596 00:49:02,942 --> 00:49:04,945 and have shaped human history. 597 00:49:07,322 --> 00:49:11,485 They show us we are not alone as intelligent beings. 598 00:49:12,362 --> 00:49:16,335 And they've become cultural icons and much loved friends. 599 00:49:19,042 --> 00:49:24,042 There's undoubtedly a magical power to pigs. 600 00:49:24,537 --> 00:49:29,537 (gentle music) (piglets squealing)