Paul H.Williams and Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writers

Wild hogs.

Eastern Jamaica, more so, Portland, is known the world over for its breathtaking natural beauty - scenic coastlines dotted with beaches, lagoons, majestic blue mountains, cascading waterfalls, crystal clear springs, and long meandering green rivers. But lurking in nature's paradise are some creatures, many of which you might not regard as beautiful.

"They are ugly and fierce ... and swift as a bullet. Dem have four tusk. Two a top that hang outta dem head soh, and dem have two more a bottom inna dem mouth. Bway, yuh see if dat ever latch on pon you ... tear you up in no time man," an excited Desmond, of Reach, Portland, told Lifestyle,recently. He was talking about the wild boars of Portland and its environs.

A boar goes to church

Desmond shows one of his trophies, a pair of wild boar tusks.

Among many other stories, Desmond related an incident in which a boar viciously attacked him, he had to chop off its head. Then, there was the time when he took a young one home and raised it. It got attached to him and followed him everywhere, even to church. "Noh soh, one Sunday me goh a one funeral an' when yuh look a de hog dat inna di church yard a grunt an a look fi me," he recalled with a big grin.

In an attempt to witnesses first hand what it is like to capture one of those notorious creatures, a team from Lifestyle embarked upon a perilous quest, two Saturdays ago. But alas, no wild boar was seen, and the hunt was abandoned. However, the team was able to see some of the offspring. And, to compensate for the failure to see a live boar baring its tusks, Desmond showed the team a pair of tusks which was salvaged from a recent slaughter. He has been hunting wild boars for 25 of his 47 years. On this particular hunt, he was joined by Kevin, a seasoned hunter in his own right, at age 29.

As members of the pig family, the boars have been roaming the mountainsides for years. They were a staple in the diet of runaway slaves and, later, the Maroons. They are principally herbivores, and have a flatter and leaner frame than their domesticated cousins. They are prime meat for jerkers in the area, and according to residents, they are even more delectable when jerked over pimento wood fire.

So, the next time you feel adventurous, remember the hills are alive with the sound of grunting and oinking. Take a hike, you might just come face to face with two pairs of sharp tusks, projecting from the snout of a wild creature of the east.

paul.williams@gleanerjm.com gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com

Kevin and Desmond ride towards the Portland hills, while these dogs trot closely behind. - Photos by Ian Allen/Staff Photographer