Razorback
Encyclopedia
Razorback is an Americanism
, loosely applied to any type of feral pig or wild boar in North America. The term has also appeared in Australia
, to describe said animals in that country.
Christopher Columbus
is known to have intentionally released domestic swine in the West Indies during his second voyage in order to provide future expeditions with a freely available food supply.
Hernando de Soto
is known to have introduced Eurasian domestic swine to Florida
in 1539, although Juan Ponce de León
may have introduced the first pigs into mainland Florida in 1525.
The practice of introducing domestic pigs into the New World
continued throughout the exploration periods of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is thought that the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa), which originally ranged from Great Britain
to European Russia
may have also been introduced.
In South America, during the early 20th century, free-ranging boars were introduced in Uruguay
for hunting purposes and eventually crossed the border into Brazil
in the 1990s, quickly becoming an invasive species
. Licensed private hunting of both feral boars and their hybrids with domestic pigs was authorized from August 2005 on in the Southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul
, although their presence as a pest had been already noticed by the press as early as 1994. Releases and escapes from unlicensed farms (established because of increased demand for boar meat as an alternative to pork
), however, continued to bolster feral populations and by mid-2008 licensed hunts had to be expanded to the states of Santa Catarina
and São Paulo
.
Recently-established Brazilian boar populations are not to be confused with long established populations of feral domestic pigs (porcos monteiros), which have existed mainly in the Pantanal
for more than a hundred years, along with native peccaries. The demographic dynamics of the interaction between feral pigs populations and those of the two native species of peccaries (Collared Peccary
and White-lipped Peccary
) is obscure and is being studied presently. It has been proposed that the existence of feral pigs could somewhat ease jaguar
predation on peccary populations, as jaguars would show a preference for hunting pigs, when these are available.
As of 2008, the estimated population of 4 million feral hogs cause an estimated US$800 million of property damage a year in the U.S.
in Fayetteville
. The Arkansas Razorbacks
play in the Southeastern Conference
, a Division I (NCAA) American intercollegiate athletic association. The mascot's name is Tusk
. The Arkansas Razorbacks' logo is a razorback hog, seen in silhouette, usually red on white or white on red. Moreover, the University of Arkansas' unique sports cheer is known as "Calling the Hogs." The chant is usually written as "Woo Pig Sooie," ostensibly the call used by domestic hog farmers to bring their stock to the trough for feeding (thus arguably recognizing that the original "hogs" were, in fact, domestic swine, despite the razorback living in the wild as a feral
animal today).
American English
American English is a set of dialects of the English language used mostly in the United States. Approximately two-thirds of the world's native speakers of English live in the United States....
, loosely applied to any type of feral pig or wild boar in North America. The term has also appeared in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, to describe said animals in that country.
Introduction to the Americas
Domestic pigs were first introduced to the Americas in the 16th century.Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus
Christopher Columbus was an explorer, colonizer, and navigator, born in the Republic of Genoa, in northwestern Italy. Under the auspices of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, he completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean that led to general European awareness of the American continents in the...
is known to have intentionally released domestic swine in the West Indies during his second voyage in order to provide future expeditions with a freely available food supply.
Hernando de Soto
Hernando de Soto (explorer)
Hernando de Soto was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who, while leading the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, was the first European documented to have crossed the Mississippi River....
is known to have introduced Eurasian domestic swine to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1539, although Juan Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León was a Spanish explorer. He became the first Governor of Puerto Rico by appointment of the Spanish crown. He led the first European expedition to Florida, which he named...
may have introduced the first pigs into mainland Florida in 1525.
The practice of introducing domestic pigs into the New World
New World
The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...
continued throughout the exploration periods of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is thought that the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa), which originally ranged from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
to European Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
may have also been introduced.
In South America, during the early 20th century, free-ranging boars were introduced in Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
for hunting purposes and eventually crossed the border into Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in the 1990s, quickly becoming an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
. Licensed private hunting of both feral boars and their hybrids with domestic pigs was authorized from August 2005 on in the Southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
, although their presence as a pest had been already noticed by the press as early as 1994. Releases and escapes from unlicensed farms (established because of increased demand for boar meat as an alternative to pork
Pork
Pork is the culinary name for meat from the domestic pig , which is eaten in many countries. It is one of the most commonly consumed meats worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BC....
), however, continued to bolster feral populations and by mid-2008 licensed hunts had to be expanded to the states of Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
and São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
.
Recently-established Brazilian boar populations are not to be confused with long established populations of feral domestic pigs (porcos monteiros), which have existed mainly in the Pantanal
Pantanal
The Pantanal is a tropical wetland and one of the world's largest wetland of any kind. Most of it lies within the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul, but it extends into Mato Grosso and portions of Bolivia and Paraguay, sprawling over an area estimated at between and...
for more than a hundred years, along with native peccaries. The demographic dynamics of the interaction between feral pigs populations and those of the two native species of peccaries (Collared Peccary
Collared Peccary
The collared peccary is a species of mammal in the family Tayassuidae that is found in North, Central, and South America. They are commonly referred to as javelina, saíno or báquiro, although these terms are also used to describe other species in the family...
and White-lipped Peccary
White-lipped Peccary
The White-lipped Peccary, Tayassu pecari, is a peccary species found in Central and South America, living in rainforest, dry forest and chaco scrub. It is monotypic within the genus Tayassu....
) is obscure and is being studied presently. It has been proposed that the existence of feral pigs could somewhat ease jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
predation on peccary populations, as jaguars would show a preference for hunting pigs, when these are available.
As of 2008, the estimated population of 4 million feral hogs cause an estimated US$800 million of property damage a year in the U.S.
Appearances in popular culture
The most widely-recognized appearance of the razorback or wild boar in American popular culture is as the sports mascot for the University of ArkansasUniversity of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in Fayetteville
Fayetteville
Fayetteville is the name of a number of places in the United States of America. Many are named for General Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, a French officer who fought under General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War....
. The Arkansas Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
play in the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, a Division I (NCAA) American intercollegiate athletic association. The mascot's name is Tusk
Tusk (mascot)
Tusk is the name of the official live mascot for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. It is one of three offspring of Tusk I which were born on either August 2, 2002 or August 12, 2002, to two separate female sows...
. The Arkansas Razorbacks' logo is a razorback hog, seen in silhouette, usually red on white or white on red. Moreover, the University of Arkansas' unique sports cheer is known as "Calling the Hogs." The chant is usually written as "Woo Pig Sooie," ostensibly the call used by domestic hog farmers to bring their stock to the trough for feeding (thus arguably recognizing that the original "hogs" were, in fact, domestic swine, despite the razorback living in the wild as a feral
Feral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
animal today).