Although it is no longer March of Pigs, I cannot help but share what I find to be an inspirational story about feral pigs in Canada. Originally imported from Europe in the late 1980s for meat, these noble creatures have truly made the great north their own. They mate with domestic pigs, live off the land and build their own above-ground structures known as “pigloos.” They have a special combination of wild and domesticated traits that have helped them become 600 pound super pigs. Amazing.
You never know what is happening behind the scenes, so approach every person and situation with kindness, compassion and patience.
Many years ago, while I was trolling the depths of the internet, before our family ever knew it would eventually relocate to the UK, I discovered something wonderful. It was the Oxford-Cambridge Goat Race, hosted by Spitalfields City Farm in London. Every year, one goat representing Cambridge faces off against one goat representing Oxford race across the farm to a crowd of delighted caprid enthusiasts. It was an instant addition to my bucket list.
About three years ago, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend, and we were lucky enough to enjoy the 2018 and 2019 races as well. The 2020 race has been postponed in light of the recent COVID-19 outbreak, and we hope to see the goats again!
Sometimes you just need to seize the opportunity and find some joy in the world. That is what a herd of mountain goats in Wales did a few days ago. Although humans across the UK are in lockdown, the Prime Minister did not extend the new rules to combat the spread of SARS-COV-2 to goats. Thus, the gang of goats saw their opportunity to descend upon the town of Llandudno. Locals (who I assume were following social distancing protocols and noticed the goats on essential errands or the one hour of outside exercise time per day) found the goats roaming the streets and hanging out as though they were meant to be there all along. And perhaps they were.
I would most of all like to thank the many people who shared this amazing story with me over the past few days. This story brought me great joy, as does the fact that people reach out with goat related shenanigans. Please note that I did not take any of these photographs.
Pigs have feelings too! Perhaps after a few weeks of March of Pigs you may have noticed that pigs are actually quite expressive. That’s because they feel a wide range of emotions, just like humans. Pigs can feel joy and happiness as well as suffer from negative emotions like sadness and grief. Pigs are not only emotional creatures, but have been observed to show compassion for others, and feel distress at seeing their animal and human friends suffering. They have distinctive personalities, some are shy and some are gregarious just like us. In addition to having excellent memories, it is very likely that pigs have complex feelings and thoughts, and are even able to understand symbolic languages similar to higher primates and dolphins. Amazing!
A friend of mine sent this photo along. It reminds me that even though things are totally upside down it is important to take care of yourself. Have a shower, enjoy a film, immerse yourself in a good book, call up an old friend, find an online fitness class, whatever you do to make you feel like you and help you get through.
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It may seem like a strange thing to say, but during this time of social distancing, isolation and lockdowns make sure to rest. It is easy to think now that you are bound inside that you can get loads of work done, learn new things, and accomplish all sorts of things when the outside world was accessible. All of that is great, and I encourage you to challenge yourself, just so long as you take care of yourself as well. Keep washing your hands and stay safe.
Although you may be stuck inside, we are fortunate enough to live in times when we can still connect with one another. Maybe everyday take a moment to send a message to someone you haven’t spoken to in awhile, just to say hey. Cultivating connections will help us all get through this.
Happy Mother’s Day for UK moms (USA moms too, although Mother’s Day is observed in May across the Atlantic).
It is said that a pig is pregnant for three months, three weeks and three days. Typically, a Mama pig gives birth to about ten piglets, and she can have up to three litters per year! That’s a lot of piglets! It is advisable to keep male (boar) and female (sow) adult pigs separated to limit over-breeding.
Here is wishing all of the hard working mamas out there (all mamas are hard working mamas of course) a wonderful Sunday, hopefully inside, not going anywhere, and washing your hands.
Sometimes it is hard to keep to a safe distance. Take Pam, Angela and Ellen here for example – they are not keeping a llama distance apart! With the first day of spring upon us, it can be hard to not get out and about as the world comes back from winter.
However, The Haven Zoo has created an opportunity to spend some extra time with their menagerie! For $5, you can book an enrichment with the animal of your choice! The Haven will send you a video of our furry friends engaging in a special activity or treat, personalised just for you. They also have virtual tours and other opportunities for socially distant, remote activities during social distancing efforts, click here to book.
Goat of the Day 