Kunekune pig
Babe the kunekune pig was rescued in 2020 and now lives at the Hillside Animal Sanctuary at West Runton, Norfolk.
The kunekune is a small breed of domestic pig from New Zealand. The breed is believed to have descended from an Asian domestic breed introduced to New Zealand in the early 19th. century by whalers or traders. They differ markedly from the feral pig of European origin known in New Zealand as a 'Captain Cooker'. The native Māori people adopted the pig, kunekune is a Māori word meaning 'fat and round'.
The kunekune is covered in hair which can be long or short, and straight or curly. Hair colours include black, brown, ginger, gold, cream, and spotted combinations. It has a medium to short, slightly upturned snout, often black, and either semilopped or pricked ears. It has a short, round body with short legs and may have two wattles, called piri piri, under its chin. The kunekune stands about 24 in. (60 cm) tall, with adults weighing between 130 to 440 lb. (60 to 200 kg). A male will being considerably heavier than a female. The pig has a short, round body with short legs, a medium to short, slightly upturned snout, often black, either semilopped or pricked ears, and may have two wattles, called piri piri, under its chin.
Kunekune's can sustain themselves in summer by feeding on nothing other than grass
By the 1980's, only an estimated 50 purebred kunekune remained. Michael Willis and John Simister, wildlife park owners, started a breeding recovery programme, which encouraged other recovery efforts. As of 2010, the breed no longer faces extinction, with breed societies in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In 1993, two were imported into the United States from the UK.
Kunekune's cannot be imported into Australia, as the country does not allow the import of live pigs for biosecurity reasons. However, breeders have created an alternative breed, the Australian miniature pig.
A 2017 report in Science Daily stated that the kunekune has remarkable social learning with 'astonishingly good memory'.
Kunekune's have a docile, friendly nature and can be kept as pets. They are a recognised breed of miniature pig.
Kunekune pig
Babe the kunekune pig was rescued in 2020 and now lives at the Hillside Animal Sanctuary at West Runton, Norfolk.
The kunekune is a small breed of domestic pig from New Zealand. The breed is believed to have descended from an Asian domestic breed introduced to New Zealand in the early 19th. century by whalers or traders. They differ markedly from the feral pig of European origin known in New Zealand as a 'Captain Cooker'. The native Māori people adopted the pig, kunekune is a Māori word meaning 'fat and round'.
The kunekune is covered in hair which can be long or short, and straight or curly. Hair colours include black, brown, ginger, gold, cream, and spotted combinations. It has a medium to short, slightly upturned snout, often black, and either semilopped or pricked ears. It has a short, round body with short legs and may have two wattles, called piri piri, under its chin. The kunekune stands about 24 in. (60 cm) tall, with adults weighing between 130 to 440 lb. (60 to 200 kg). A male will being considerably heavier than a female. The pig has a short, round body with short legs, a medium to short, slightly upturned snout, often black, either semilopped or pricked ears, and may have two wattles, called piri piri, under its chin.
Kunekune's can sustain themselves in summer by feeding on nothing other than grass
By the 1980's, only an estimated 50 purebred kunekune remained. Michael Willis and John Simister, wildlife park owners, started a breeding recovery programme, which encouraged other recovery efforts. As of 2010, the breed no longer faces extinction, with breed societies in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In 1993, two were imported into the United States from the UK.
Kunekune's cannot be imported into Australia, as the country does not allow the import of live pigs for biosecurity reasons. However, breeders have created an alternative breed, the Australian miniature pig.
A 2017 report in Science Daily stated that the kunekune has remarkable social learning with 'astonishingly good memory'.
Kunekune's have a docile, friendly nature and can be kept as pets. They are a recognised breed of miniature pig.