Anthropology seminar series: "Follow the white pig". Of wild boars and hunter-gatherers in innermost Borneo

The bearded pig (Sus barbatus barbatus) is an emblematic wild species of the island of Borneo. This tireless migratory mammal is an ecosystem engineer and forest gardener and, as such, fulfils ecological functions that are essential to the maintenance of Borneo rainforests. For instance, the bearded pig reshapes the soil surface and accelerates the decomposition of organic matter. It browses and cleans the undergrowth, improving the access of tree roots to soil nutrients. In addition to being the most coveted game of the P'nan — the last hunter-gatherers of Borneo — the wild boar is also the most salient symbolic element of the culture. The P’nan assign to this mammal a fundamental role of mediator between men and the divinities that dispense the resources of the forest. Through its interactions with other forest wildlife – birds, monkeys, barking deer – the bearded boar reveals the relationship that the peoples of Borneo have with their forests, their concern for a sane cohabitation with all the living creatures of the forest, and a reasonable use of its resources. For the inhabitants of Borneo, this mysterious and still little-known mammal is much more than just game: it is an ecological and a cultural keystone species. This presentation will describe these dynamics, and will discuss the importance of the role of people like the P’nan in maintaining local ecosystems through their relationships with species like the bearded pig.