The largest pig that ever lived, according to researchers investigating the origins and evolution of domestic livestock, was a Chinese wild boar with a body weight of over 10,000 lb (4.5 tons). It was measured in 1999 in the field by the Hunan Institute of Animal Sciences and was killed in order to study it thoroughly under the supervision of the team leader, Professor Wu Jianfeng, Hunan Institute of Animal Sciences.
They found that the pig had a head-and-body length of approximately 7.1 feet (2.17 m) and an average head-and-body length of about 3 feet (0.9 m). Its head was massive, and its jaw bone was almost 2.5 feet (0.7 m) long. The tibia bones in the pig’s legs were almost 6.8 feet (2.1 m) long. It took the researchers approximately two years to capture the pig alive and, according to Professor Wu, “I personally witnessed this pig being captured alive, which was very difficult.”
As for the pig’s weight, he was first estimated to weigh around 10,000 lbs when he was captured; in fact, the research team found that the pig had a bodyweight of around 9,600 lbs and a body length of about 6 feet, which is consistent with the estimated carcass weight in the field according to their research.
The pig was still alive, which suggested the researchers should carry on analyzing. But, unfortunately, the pig died prematurely soon after he and the researchers returned to the laboratory. The body of the animal was left to be studied by the team leader’s research group.
