The Białowieża Forest straddles the border of Poland and Belarus. It is one of the largest remaining tracts of primeval forest left in Europe. The forest area is about 2,000 square kilometers; most of the area is located in Belarus. Both countries have included large portions of the Białowieża Forest within their national park system.
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Sus scrofa - The wild boar is the ancestor of the domesticated pig and is native to Europe and Asia. It is a sturdy animal, compact in design, with a large head and short legs. The coat has an inner layer of fine fur and an outer layer of stiff bristles. Adult males use their tusks as weapons against predators or other males when battling for females. The females also have enlarged canines, but they do not protrude from the mouth. Boars have a pre-nasal bone at the tip of their snout; it is used as a shovel when digging up roots, tubers or bulbs.
