Meet Sheldon the Playful Serval Cub at Point Defiance Zoo

Meet Milo, São Paulo Zoo's Collared Peccary Piglet

Collared peccary


Collared peccary 2

Collared peccary 6

Collared peccary 1
Photo credits: São Paulo Zoo / Carlos Nader

See and learn more after the fold.

Collared peccary 4

Collared peccary 5

Peccaries are commonly mistaken for domestic pigs, which originated from the Old World. However, peccaries are from a different family and the four known species only exist in the New World, ranging from the Southern United States to Northern Argentina. They are named for the white stripe, resembling a collar, that encircles the neck and shoulders of adults. In the wild, Collared Peccaries live in groups of up to 40 animals. Although they are not commonly aggressive, they can be considered very dangerous if they are threatened or scared, since they will flee and possibly use their long tusks as defense against any menace. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Collared Peccaries are common and widespread, and are a species of Least Concern on the Red List of Threatened Species.