Giant forest hog

Scientific name: Hylochoerus meinertzhageni

How weight is recorded: Carcass weight

Field notes

Appearance

Dark brown to black coarse coat with sparse, wiry hair; face and ears notably bare or sparsely haired. Males significantly larger and more robust than females, with prominent facial warts and tusks.

Size and weight

Males 150–210 kg, females 100–150 kg; body length 75–110 cm.

Habitat

Dense forests and thick woodland with good water access, typically from 1,500–4,200 m elevation. Prefers areas with lush undergrowth and muddy wallows.

Distribution

Endemic to West and Central African forests, fragmented across Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Cameroon, and Gabon. Inhabits primary and secondary forest.

Diet

Primarily fallen fruits, roots, tubers, and fungi; also bark, leaves, and invertebrates; diet shifts seasonally with fruit availability.

Behaviour

Primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. Solitary or in small family groups; males may be territorial; produce loud grunts and snorts.

Hunting tips

Look for deep, round tracks (4–5 cm diameter) and scattered, coarse droppings near wallows and feeding areas. Approach from downwind through dense cover, moving slowly during low-light hours. Use waterholes and muddy areas as ambush points, listening for snorts and movement in thick vegetation.

Carcass weight

This species is logged by carcass weight — the animal weighed dressed, the way hunting teams normally report it.

Where it is hunted

Listed as huntable in 3 countries in Huntify.

Names in other languages

These field notes are general species knowledge, not legal advice. Always check the current seasons, quotas and firearm rules where you hunt.