As Pumbaa laments in the Lion King, the warthog is so misunderstood! Though warthogs appear ferocious, they are basically grazers. They eat grasses and plants, and also use their snouts to dig or “root” for roots or bulbs. …Warthogs are members of the same family as domestic pigs, but present a much different appearance. These
Puumba Gets a Bad Rap!
While not the prettiest by conventional standards, a warthog’s head only appears to be covered in warts. They’re actually “protective bumps” that come in handy when guarding a burrow entrance with just their heads and tusks. (Read more at NatGeo.) See more from our African Wildlife album at explore.org.
Pumbaa!
Pumbaa! The Disney character’s name means “silly or careless” in Swahili. Pumbaa may have been, but Warthogs are pretty serious fellows. “The warthog is a tough, sturdy animal. Males weigh 20 to 50 pounds more than females, but both are distinguished by disproportionately large heads and “warts”—thick protective pads that appear on both sides of
