Warthogs are always one of those animals that are a must see when going on an African safari. Movies like The Lion King with a character called Pumba has added to the popularity of these animals among visiting tourists from all over the world. Warthogs are not only popular among tourists; they also feature on the menu of every large predator found in the African wild and is a popular meal for animals such as lions, leopards, and hyenas. Baby warthogs are probably one of the most vulnerable animals out in the African wild. Wandering off too far from the safety of a mother can cost them their lives in an instant.
My wife and I was travelling down one of the main roads in the Kruger National Park when we saw a female warthog with four piglets feeding not too far away from the road. Baby warthogs are some of the cutest animals in the African wild. To see little piglets like these in the wild out in the open is a lucky opportunity as they normally disappear very quickly with their mother into the thickets when any vehicles come close. On this day the cute baby warthogs were staying close to the safety of their mother, and I decided to film these adorable little creatures before they run off. To my amazement, the four baby warthogs suddenly became interested in a nearby large bird called a woolly-necked stork. The piglets stared at the stork for a bit, then suddenly just left their mother, going after the bird. I was amazed by how far they moved away from their mother. A nearby leopard could easily take one out within seconds. The piglets were clearly not thinking of any danger, looking totally focussed on ganging up together against this stork. It was so funny and cute at the same time to watch the four baby warthogs running and walking together, somehow trying to intimidate the stork by running after it and then stopping again. The stork would just casually move along every time the piglets came closer and didn’t seem to be bothered. The baby warthogs then suddenly realised how far they have strayed from their mother. The piglets realised they needed to end their little game and like lightning turned around and darted back to their mother. Whether the baby warthogs were curious, playful, or maybe even wanting to protect their mother remains anybody’s guess. One thing is for sure, this was one of the most random but cute sights out in the wild for me in a long time.