Every living thing needs water.
However, different living things’ particular ways of accessing/consuming/conserving/using water, are hugely variable.
So are the quantities they require, how often they need to drink – if they do need to drink – and even the very nature of their relationship to water.
Certain terrestrial creatures absolutely relish water…and not just as something to drink or to swim in.
In this respect, warthogs are nigh-peerless.
Anyone who has observed the to-and-fro at an African water hole knows that “prey” animals are keenly aware that drinking is necessary, but that having a drink is the most dangerous of their regular activities.
Giraffes and zebras are very wary whenever they approach a waterhole, and when they do commit to having a drink they are still very easily “spooked”.
Lions et al do also kill and devour warthogs, but – in my experience at least – warthogs’ approach to a waterhole is much less hesitant.
Once “at the waterhole”, a warthog likes to stick around… and make fuller use of the possibilities.
Typically, a warthog meets his or her drinking needs quite quickly.
Then, it is time… s-l-o-w-l-y…to exploit water’s wonderful ability to transform earth into mud.
Mud helps protect a warthog from the sun, and from biting insects.
Immediately after an unhurried wallow, a departing, well-wetted warthog can look every bit as satisfied as the proverbial cat with the cream.
“Waterhole time” in warthog world can also be “scratching time”, and “socialising time”.
(warthogs are not territorial)
Click here if you would like to know more about the common warthog.
Coming up next: a singular, Asian member of the pig family.