Wild Boars of the Iberian Forest

The wild boar stepped from the bracken, broad and bristly, yet moving with a careful, quiet dignity. It sniffed the scattered acorns, then lowered its head to the earth beside the path. Oliver leaned forward, whiskers twitching, his pencil poised.

With a firm, purposeful snuffle, the boar pushed its strong snout into the soil. It rooted and nudged, turning leaves and pebbles as neatly as a gardener’s trowel. “How very clever,” Oliver whispered, sketching the movement. He wrote in his notebook: “Boars use their powerful snouts like shovels. They search for roots, bulbs, acorns, worms, and beetles. By digging, they mix the soil and help new plants grow.” The boar paused to crunch an acorn, ears flicking, always listening for danger.