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Svemer, Frida, 2010. Mating behaviour and hierarchy among male warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) in Kenya. First cycle, G2E. Skara: SLU, Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231)

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Abstract

Warthogs live under natural conditions in matriarchal groups, bachelor groups and yearling groups. Just like all pig species do warthogs have a complex behaviour repertoire.

The semi-wild warthog population at Kichwa Tembo Lodge, outside Masai Mara National Reserve, lives in a fenced area with access to food all over the year and is protected from predators.

The aim of this study was to observe the male warthogs’ mating behaviour and their hierarchy during the mating season. I identified eight males and observed their behaviour for five days, using continuous sampling.

To calculate the boars' hierarchy I designed an index by summing how many times they had performed the behaviours attack, defend, threat and walk away. With the help of that score I ranked the boars. The two most successful boars in terms of mating had two completely different strategies towards other boars. One was an aggressive one whereas the other one was a sneaker, avoiding other boars.

I found that a behaviour called tractor sound, a sound used by males possible to court females, strongly was correlated with courtship (r=0.932; p=0.001). The boar pressing his head against the sow's back was strongly correlated with copulating (r=0.953; p<0.001). This means that these behaviours occur when boars are courtesan sows.

The behaviours that are most significant to courtesan and copulating are tractor sound and head against back. There is definitely a hierarchy among the boars during mating season.

Main title:Mating behaviour and hierarchy among male warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) in Kenya
Authors:Svemer, Frida
Supervisor:Jung, Jens
Examiner:Loberg, Jenny
Series:Studentarbete / Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för husdjurens miljö och hälsa
Volume/Sequential designation:340
Year of Publication:2010
Level and depth descriptor:First cycle, G2E
Student's programme affiliation:VK002 Ethology and Animal Welfare - Bachelor's Programme 180 HEC
Supervising department:(VH) > Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231)
Keywords:warthog, Phacochoerus africanus, mating behaviour, hierarchy, Kenya
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-3-89
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-3-89
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Animal ecology
Language:English
Deposited On:05 Jul 2010 07:41
Metadata Last Modified:20 Apr 2012 14:14

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