One of the most unusual and instantly recognizable wild pigs in the world, found mainly on the island of Borneo and parts of the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. Its long facial hair makes it stand out from other pig species, and when combined with its leaner body and longer legs, it looks quite different from the stocky, short-legged wild boars most people are familiar with.

The bearded pig isn’t just about appearances—it also has a fascinating lifestyle. These pigs are well-adapted to Southeast Asia’s dense rainforests, swamps, and mangroves, where they feed on a wide range of foods. Like many pigs, they are omnivores, eating roots, tubers, fruits, fallen nuts, small animals, and carrion. Their excellent sense of smell helps them find food buried in soil or hidden under leaves, and they often forage in groups, turning over the forest floor as they go. By doing this, they play a key role in their ecosystem, dispersing seeds and helping new plants grow.

One of the most remarkable behaviors of the Bornean bearded pig is its participation in mass migrations. In some regions of Borneo, when certain trees such as dipterocarps produce massive amounts of fruit in a rare event called “mast fruiting,” bearded pigs gather in large numbers and travel across the forests to feast. These migrations can involve hundreds of pigs moving together, an extraordinary sight that locals occasionally see. It’s a reminder that this species is closely tied to the rhythms of its rainforest home.

Unlike many other wild pigs, it has a more slender frame, which helps it move quickly and navigate through thick vegetation. It’s also an excellent swimmer, able to cross rivers and even coastal waters to reach nearby islands. Despite its scruffy looks, it’s a true adventurer of the rainforest—part forager, part traveler, and part gardener of the forest floor.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Brunei

2016

Indonesia

2016

Kalimantan, Sumatera

Malaysia

2016

Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah

Philippines

2016

Possibly Extinct

Singapore

Official estimate

EX

Extinct locally