Warthogs are highly active wild pigs with strong digging, rooting, and grazing behaviors that require appropriate substrate and space in zoo environments to express their natural foraging repertoire.
Warthog welfare in zoo settings requires understanding that these are not simply ornamental savanna animals but active, cognitively engaged foragers whose behavioral needs include extensive substrate manipulation. Without opportunities for rooting, burrowing substrate, and varied foraging, captive warthogs have limited expression for the behaviors that occupy most of their natural day. Providing deep substrate areas with buried food items, access to soft digging areas, and varied terrain engages natural foraging behavior in ways that improve both behavioral diversity and welfare indicators. Social management that allows appropriate female and juvenile groupings reflects natural warthog social structure. The welfare of warthogs is also affected by temperature management, as these African animals are sensitive to cold European winters and need appropriate shelter.