In Japan, captive red river hogs are kept at only the Yokohama zoo. Management of the species has been based on information about the Japanese wild boar (Sus scrofa leucomystax), because there are few studies of captive African suids. The objective of this study was to collect basic behavioural data to provide the proper maintenance conditions for the animal. One mother and her litters were studied in 2007 and 2008. The mother's behaviour for 10 days prepartum and on the farrowing day and the piglets' behaviour for a month after birth were observed. Their use of each site (bedding site, feeding site, and outside site) was recorded before and after farrowing. The proportion of locomotion and exploratory behaviour increased in the three days before farrowing (p<0.05, chi-square test). The mother rooted, sniffed, carried burrowing material to or pawed hay at the farrowing site, similar to a wild boar's nest-building behaviour. The nest hay was replaced by keepers every day. During farrowing, the mother performed nest-building behaviour more often than nursing and resting. After parturition, mother and piglets spent most of day 1 in the bedding site. At 3 days of age, the proportion of time spent by the piglets with the mother and moving out of the farrowing site was higher than at 1 days of age (p<0.001, chi-square test). The piglets' locomotion increased and sucking behaviour decreased with age. The frequency of the piglets' contact with the mother decreased during the month. At outside site, the piglets explored actively and also investigated related individuals who were exhibited in the next paddock. These results showed the mother's nest-building behaviour does not differ widely from reported wild boar behaviour and also that the piglets adapt relatively easily to the external environment.