The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) spotted a Philippine warty pig, known locally as baboy-ramo (a term for wild boar that literally translates to “grass pigs”) during its Lenten climb to monitor Mount Apo in Davao.
Mount Apo is the Philippines’ tallest mountain at 2,954 meters.
DENR said that the encounter with the endemic pig, scientifically known as Sus philipppinensis, indicates the “progressive natural recovery of the peak area with its presence.”
The Philippine warty pig have been categorized as a vulnerable species due to their declining population and may soon become endangered, the DENR said.
The environment bureau also reminded the public to keep their distance from the pigs and other wild animals while trekking, and to avoid feeding them so that the animals do not lose their natural instinct to hunt for food.
Meanwhile, social media users fawned over the wild pig sighting, with some posting GIFs of Pumbaa from The Lion King.
Although Pumbaa and the warty pig come from the same pig or Suidae family, they belong to different genera — Pumbaa is classified as a common warthog, which is found in the grasslands of sub-Saharan Africa.