The domestic pig is usually given the scientific name
Sus scrofa, though some authors call it S. domesticus,
reserving S. scrofa for the wild boar. It has been a domesticated
animal for approximately 5,000 to 7,000 years. The animal
is found across Europe, the Middle East and extends into
Asia as far as Indonesia and Japan. The distinction between
wild and domestic animals is slight, and domestic pigs
have become feral in many parts of the world (for example,
New Zealand). Feral pigs can cause substantial environmental
damage. The family Suidae also includes about 12 separate
species of wild pig, most also classified in the genus
Sus. Pigs are one of the most intelligent animals, and
some are kept as pets. Pigs are reportedly more intelligent
and more trainable than dogs and cats. Pigs were brought
to southeastern North America from Europe by De Soto and
other early Spanish explorers, where escapees became feral
and became freely used by Native Americans as food.
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