Do wild animals have a favourite human? A study with hand-raised wild boars
This article was awarded 2nd place at ELTE's VII. Science Communication Competition.
We often think our companion animals enjoy being around us. And indeed, over time, domestic species like dogs, cats, and pigs have been selected for traits like tameness and sociability. As a result, many domestic animals not only tolerate humans but actively seek out familiar ones. If that person has treated the animal in a positive manner the chance of approach increases. This suggests that not only domestication but also past experience with humans plays a key role. This raises an intriguing question: is this willingness to be near humans something only domestic animals possess? Or could wild animals also choose to approach familiar humans, if they’ve had positive contact since early life?
To explore this, researchers studied wild boars raised by humans from birth. Wild boars are highly social and the wild relatives of domestic pigs, making them ideal for studying how close human relationships can develop without domestication. They are also increasingly common in parks and suburban areas, yet little is known about their social behaviour towards humans. The researchers set out to answer two questions: First, can wild boars tell the difference between a familiar human and a stranger, even if the familiar person is not their main caregiver? And secondly, would they voluntarily approach that person if given the choice?
The research team tested four young, hand-raised wild boars living in Budakeszi Vadaspark in Hungary. Each animal participated in two social preference tests: one in which they could choose between a familiar person and a stranger, and another between a familiar person and a familiar object. The boars were free to explore the arena and approach any of the choices, with no commands or constraints.
What happened? The wild boars showed noticeable preferences. They were more likely to approach the familiar person first than the stranger or the object. They spent more time foraging near the familiar person when paired with the object and preferred staying closer to the familiar person than to the stranger. This suggests that the animals not only distinguished the familiar individual but actively chose to be near them.
Notably, the familiar person wasn’t their main caregiver, just someone they had positive interactions with over time. This means that repeated friendly contact, not just daily care, may be enough for wild animals to form social preferences for specific humans.
These findings offer a glimpse into how flexible animal behaviour can be. They suggest that while domestication may predispose animals to be more sociable towards humans, it may not be the only path to it. With enough positive exposure, even wild animals can recognize, and choose the humans they trust. This insight also has important practical implications for people working closely with wild animals in zoos, parks, or rehabilitation centres. Trust, it seems, can be built, even across species.