10th November 2009

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New signs of pig genius

Pigs can figure out how mirrors work and use the reflected images to keep an eye on their surroundings and search for food, says a new study.

This latest finding in pig cognition is yet another sign that they learn in a manner similar to humans. Says the New York Times:

Other researchers have found that pigs are brilliant at remembering where food stores are cached and how big each stash is relative to the rest. They’ve shown that Pig A can almost instantly learn to follow Pig B when the second pig shows signs of knowing where good food is stored, and that Pig B will try to deceive the pursuing pig and throw it off the trail so that Pig B can hog its food in peace.

Pigs can also learn what the paper calls a “circus’s worth” of tricks, such as bowing, spinning, uttering wordlike sounds, herding sheep (Babe!), playing videogames with joysticks and unrolling rugs.

Tags pigsdiscoveriescognitionBabe

29th May 2009

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Bandit’s pals hear the call of the wild

Rather good-looking upstate animal owner Jeff Taylor (right with a llama) just can’t catch a break.

Last month, his wallaroo - now famously known as Bandit - escaped Taylor’s North Chittenango, New York, petting zoo/farm. Bandit remains on the lam.

To add insult to injury, an intruder recently trespassed on Taylor’s property, says the Syracuse Post-Standard, and let goats, pigs and a peacock out of the barn.

All of the animals have since been recovered and, says Taylor, the property has been placed under surveillance.

Tags Banditgoatspigswallaroospeacocks

29th April 2009

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These pigs are tired of the stereotypes

At the very base of the New York Times’ online swine flu Q&A lies this gem:

“We live in a residential neighborhood (lots of about 6-8,000 feet, and homes 2,000 square feet or less). Our neighbor has a potbellied pig that lives in the backyard. Should we concerned about this?”

The answer? Absolutely not. Sez one doctor interviewed: “The infection is being transmitted among swine living in close quarters in Mexico, not among isolated domesticated pigs.”

Sez the pig in question: “How dare you?”

Update: The World Organization for Animal Health has said that the slaughter of pigs as a precaution against swine flu (ahem, Egypt) is “inappropriate.”

Tags pigshealthjustice