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OFFBEAT

Johann the pig’s udderly adorable new family

For one plucky pig in Lower Saxony, mingling with his own species just didn't appeal. The wild hog decided to make friends in higher places – by joining a herd of cows on a Göttingen farm.

Published: 6 October 2015 13:44 CEST
Johann the pig's udderly adorable new family
Johann found love among the herd in Göttingen. Photo: DPA.

The brave little boar turned up around two weeks ago, farmer Jochen Kraft told Bild.

It was Kraft's son who first spotted the newest addition to the herd, he said.

The apparently orphaned piglet – who the pair have since named Johann – was found cosied up amongst the cows, who certainly stepped up to the task of looking after him.

In a “touching” display, the herd treated Johann like one of their own calves, reports Bild – licking the piglet clean and letting him snuggle up to them.

Photo: DPA

Johann's story was soon picked up by local media, and curious visitors began turning up at the meadow to see the piglet and his new foster family.

But the attention was apparently all too much for Johann.

The piglet upped sticks again, wandering to a different meadow a few hundred metres away.

Here, he found a new cattle herd to join – and currently lives among five pregnant cows.

Johann's newest family have already accepted him and treat him well, said Kraft.

The piglet doesn't struggle to find food either: while his pregnant foster-mothers munch on grass, the boar happily forages for may bug larvae and acorns.

Photo: DPA

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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