The Giant Forest Hog (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni – the only member of its genus) is native to wooded habitats in Africa and generally is considered the largest wild member of the Suidae (pig family; a few subspecies of the wild boar can reach an even larger size). Despite its large size and relatively wide distribution, it was only described by scientists in 1904. The specific name honours Richard Meinertzhagen, who shot the type specimen in Kenya and had it shipped to the Natural History Museum in England.

Males reach up 2.1 m (6.9 ft) in length and 1.1 m (3.6 ft) in height, and may weigh as much as 275 kg (610 lb). Females are smaller than males, and the eastern nominate subspecies is larger than H. m. rimator of central Africa and H. m. ivoriensis of west Africa. The giant forest hog has extensive hairs on its body, though these tend to become less pronounced as the animal ages. It is mostly black in colour on the surface, though hairs nearest the skin of the animal are a deep orange colour. Its ears are large and pointy, and the tusks are proportionally smaller than those of the warthogs but bigger than those of the bushpig. Nevertheless, the tusks of a male may reach a length of 35 centimetres (14 in).

Coordinates: 36°33′45″N 118°45′05″W / 36.5624446°N 118.7514868°W / 36.5624446; -118.7514868

The Giant Forest, famed for its giant sequoia trees, is within Sequoia National Park. This montane forest, situated at over 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above mean sea level in the western Sierra Nevada of California, covers an area of 1,880 acres (7.6 km²). The Giant Forest is the most accessible of all giant sequoia groves, as it has over 40 miles (64 km) of hiking trails.

Five of the ten most massive trees on the planet are located within the Giant Forest. The largest of these, the General Sherman tree, measures 36.5 feet (11.1 m) across the base. The giant sequoia tree is the most massive species of tree on earth, and one of just five tree species documented to grow to 300 feet in height (the others are Coast Redwood, Eucalyptus Regnans, Douglas fir, and Sitka Spruce). It is also among the longest-lived of all trees on the planet.

Giant Forest is close to Crystal Cave, Moro Rock and Crescent Meadow.

The western trailhead of the High Sierra Trail which crosses the Sierra Nevada to Mount Whitney is at the Crescent Meadow parking area.

Anthony McGowan (born 1965) is a British author of novels for adults and children.

Anthony McGowan was born in Manchester and now lives in London with his wife, author and fashion designer Rebecca Campbell, and their two young children. He studied Philosophy and Politics at Manchester University and worked as a freelance journalist and civil servant before giving up to write full-time. His first book, Hellbent, was shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award and he went on to win the 2006 Teenage Booktrust Prize with his second book, Henry Tumor. The Knife That Killed Me was longlisted for both the Guardian and Carnegie Medal and was shortlisted for the 2008 Booktrust Teenage Prize and the Young Minds Book Award. In 2008 Anthony launched a new series for younger children called The Bare Bum Gang. There are currently four titles in this series. Einstein’s Underpants is Anthony’s first book for children ages 9 and up. In 2011 he published The Donut Diaries, the first book in a new series which are credited to the series main character, Dermot Milligan. The sequel, The Donut Diaries: Revenge is Sweet is due for release in 2012.