Visitors to Cotswold Wildlife Park are crowding around new arrivals Pebbles and BamBam, two rare Visayan warty piglets.
It’s the first litter produced by father Fred and mother Wilma – named after characters in the cartoon series The Flintstones – since they arrived at the park about two years ago.
Fred came from a collection in Rotterdam and Wilma from one in Poland, and the park in Burford is one of only six in the UK to keep the unusual pigs. Curator Jamie Craig said: “It is a real success to have bred this critically endangered species.
“Our warty pigs are a new pair and their offspring will help to boost the captive population.
“Despite this being their first litter, they have proved to be excellent and attentive parents, keeping a watchful eye on the two energetic piglets as they explore their enclosure.”
Classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the pigs are facing a high risk of extinction in the wild.
Originally from six islands in the Philippines, they have become extinct from four of them due to deforestation and hunting.
Cotswold Wildlife Park is part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) to help protect the pigs from extinction.
Visitors can see the new family in their paddock next to the flamingo lake and the wolf enclosure.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel