Warthogs at Vitshumbi, Virunga National Park, Congo (Democratic Republic)

During his trip to Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited Vitshumbi, a fishing harbour on the south shore of Lake Edward (Lake Rutanzige), which is shallow, and has an impoverished fish fauna. Warthogs range in size from 0.91 to 1.5 metres (3-5 feet) in length and 50 to 150 kg (110-330 pounds) in weight. The male is called a boar, the female a sow, and the young piglets. A group is called a sounder. Although warthogs are commonly seen in open grasslands, they will seek shelter and forage in denser vegetation. In fact, warthogs prefer to forage in dense, moist areas when available. The common warthog diet is omnivorous, composed of grasses, roots, berries and other fruits, bark, fungi, eggs, dead animals, and even small mammals, reptiles and birds. Warthogs are powerful diggers, using both heads and feet. When feeding, they often bend the front legs backwards and move around staying on the knees. The warthog commonly enters burrows "back-end first", with the head always facing the opening and ready to burst out as needed. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970.