Visayan warty pigs share characteristics typical in wild pigs. They possess medium-sized, barrel-shaped bodies and short legs. They have short necks, longish heads, small eyes, prominent snouts ending in a disk-like nose, and tusks which are upturned lower canines.

Males generally have both larger tusks and warts than females and are much larger in size and weight. Females generally weigh up to 40 kilograms whilst the males have been known to get up to a staggering 80 kilograms.

Very little is known about the behaviour of this species in the wild. They are omnivores and feed mainly on fruits, leaves and earthworms. They play a key role in dispersing seeds of some plant species within the chain of islands in the Philippines.

Visayan warty pigs in the wild require dense forested areas as well as grasslands. Unfortunately they lost over 95% of their former habitats especially in the lowlands. Because of logging and cultivation of crops such as cane sugar Visayan Warty Pigs have lost the majority of their forest. With a loss of their natural food source many of the wild pigs encroached on cultivated vegetable, fruit, sugar and cereal crops. Then they faced human persecution from farmers as crop-raiding pests whilst hunters also poach them for their meat. It’s no wonder these natural seed dispersers of forest vegetation are highly endangered.