Current population trend: decreasing (de Jong et al. 2016)
Southern Africa
At least 22,250 (Swanepoel et al. 2016)
Conservation Status
IUCN
Least Concern(2016 assessment) (de Jong et al. 2016)
Widespread and often locally abundant
High reproductive rate
Expanding range in South Africa
Most populations declining
CITES
Not listed (UNEP 2019)
Low levels of international trade in live warthogs and warthog products (Vercammen and Mason 1993)
Threats to Survival
Susceptible to drought and hunting (from Cumming 2008)
May lead to localized extinctions
Management Actions
No known conservation measures
Present in numerous protected areas across its range (Cumming 2008)
Recommended action
Collect additional data on distribution and population status (Vercammen and Mason 1993)
Ongoing research conducted by Y. A. de Jong and T. M. Butynski focuses on desert and common warthogs (WPSG)
Collect new ecological and behavioral data
Assess distribution and abundance in Kenya
Establish baseline data against which long-term trends can be determined and evaluated
Reassess conservation needs
Breeding in managed care
Proposed breeding program for Phacochoerus africanus aeliani subspecies (the Eritrean warthog); to safeguard this regionally threatened form (Grubb 1993)
Taxonomic research to assess subspecific designations (Grubb 1993)
Monitor trade in bushmeat and ivory (Vercammen and Mason 1993)
Page Citations
Cumming (2008) de Jong and Butynski (2014) Grubb (1993) Vercammen and Mason (1993) WPSG