The white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari), locally known as huangana or saíno, is a species of medium to large native pig of the Tayassuidae family native to Central and South America. It is terrestrial and gregarious, and can form herds from 50 to 300 individuals. They are mainly frugivorous, but they feed from other plant resources, invertebrates, fungi, and even fish from time to time. The white-lipped peccary feeds on 144 plant species belonging to 36 families and plays a very important role in the ecology of neotropical forests as a seed disperser. It is a generally diurnal animal, which travels great distances of up to 10 km per day. It is very easy to recognize that a herd of huanganas was in one place, because of the strong stale smell that they leave in the environment, something very characteristic of these animals.

The white-lipped peccary is a good swimmer and can cross large rivers. The family groups have a dominant male that will not allow the entry of other males. The females reject the entry of more females into the herd. This species is distributed in the Coast, Amazon, and estimates of the Ecuadorian Andes.

Threats

The white-lipped peccary populations of the western zone are classified as Critically Endangered (CR), while the eastern populations are Endangered (EN), according to the Red Book of Mammals of Ecuador. On the IUCN red list, it is a Vulnerable species (VU), but with declining populations.

It faces many threats, such as loss of habitat, competition with livestock, and epidemics of diseases transmitted by domestic animals. However, the main threat is illegal hunting for human consumption of meat, skin, and teeth (used in crafts).