Warthogs are highly social, active African wild pigs whose welfare in zoos depends on social housing, digging opportunities, and naturalistic environments.
Warthog welfare in zoos is often managed adequately at the basic level but misses species-specific behavioral requirements. Their need to dig, burrow, and root is a high-priority behavioral motivation that cannot be redirected to other activities without welfare cost. Soil substrates, mounded terrain, and access to burrowing materials address this need directly. Social housing in appropriate groups reflects their natural sounder structure and provides social enrichment that isolated or pair-housed animals lack. Educational use of warthogs in keeper talks and visitor experiences can support positive welfare through positive human-animal interactions, provided these are conducted without causing unnecessary stress.