400 Kg. Pinkie
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It 'was certainly an exciting event..... But all's well that ends well
The vets arrived around 3 PM -and we quickly assembled the local lads who were helping us to restrain Pinkie.
We moved Pinkie into the spare pen next to his own -because this was closer to the electricity supply.
It was quite amazing to see mild mouse Pinkie (estimated at around 400 kg by the vet) turn into a raging bull as soon as a stranger tries to touch him......
Some of the "helpers" were (quite naturally) nervous -but that's not the way to deal with such an animal. By moving too quickly -they startled Pinkie -who ran back to his own pen -demolishing the heavy gate in the process....
Luckily we had the local "Butcher" (and his assistant) helping -and they were much more used to handling pigs.
He sneaked up on Pinkie while Pinkie was having a pee and quietly lifted Pinkie's leg so he could put a noose around it. After that -he was able to pull the rope and wrestle Pinkie to the ground -where he was (literally) hog tied. Previously the vet had managed to get a "snare" over Pinkies top jaw -so his head could be fully restrained.
Once restrained -Pinkie started the most terrible screaming -which I was worried would upset Beans and the Piglets -but she didn't seem to care too much as long as all was safe and nonthreatening in her pen....
Once he discovered the helplessness of his situation, Pinkie also calmed down a bit and the tusk could be cut with a small portable circular saw......
Once that was removed -he had to be turned over so the other tusk could be done.....
...and then, of course, there was the danger and difficulty of releasing him.
Luckily, Pinkie seemed to realize that, despite the indignity of it all, it really was for his own benefit and he didn't seem at all revengeful....
During the process -he was given Novocaine for any pain -plus an anti-tetanus and antibiotic shots.......
So we hope he'll be OK .... He seemed friendly enough to us afterwards -and appeared OK the next morning....
Fatima has kept one tusk -and the vet's assistant was given the other -as souvenir ...
Such a large boar is quite unusual on the island.....
Beans and the piglets seem fine too..... The piglets were fast asleep at the 6.30 AM feeding time for Beans the next morning....
Another Birthday
Piglets Again!
