Why do common warthogs enter existing burrows backwards when retreating for shelter?
Answer
To position their tough, heavily tusked face and protective warts toward the entrance
The behavior of entering a burrow backwards is a crucial defensive adaptation. Warthogs utilize abandoned tunnels, often those dug by aardvarks, for shelter from heat or predators. By retreating in reverse, the animal strategically places its most heavily armored and potentially dangerous features—the tough facial warts and the sharp tusks—at the opening. This physical barrier makes it significantly more difficult for a predator attempting to force its way inside the confined space to gain purchase or inflict serious injury on the warthog's vulnerable rear end or body.
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Warthog Facts: WHY the WARTS? Animal Fact Files - YouTube
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