The two dumped pot-bellied pigs that have been scurrying around in the Drents-Friese Wold for more than a week and a half have been caught and anesthetized. That is what forest ranger Sanne van Gemerden says.
For the past ten days, catching the pot-bellied pigs, which have been renamed ‘mini-tanks’, seemed like an impossible task, but now it has finally been done.
The name mini-tanks were given to the animals after it became clear that they would not be caught. Every time various conservation organizations thought they had the animals in an enclosure, the pot-bellied pigs threw their weight into battle and stormed through the safety nets.
“As Natuurmonumenten, we naturally take good care of our nature reserves and the associated animals. But pot-bellied pigs, yes, that is a different category,” says Van Gemerden.
They were therefore difficult to catch, but they had to leave the Drents-Friese Wold. Firstly because, in addition to wild boars, pot-bellied pigs are also not welcome in our province. But above all also because the dumped animals do not easily survive in the unfamiliar, wild nature.
Soon enough, Natuurmonumenten, with the help of the hobby pig association, arranged a shelter at an animal shelter in Drachtstercompagnie. But yes, how to get them there? The most animal-friendly option was stunning, if that didn’t work, the animals had to be shot. But several capture attempts failed and Natuurmonumenten also lost sight of the animals for a while.
Natuurmonumenten approached the province and the municipality of Westerveld for help, among others. But both authorities kept the door locked, or did not know what to do with the pot-bellied pigs themselves.
Finally, after several calls for help, the nature organization contacted veterinarian Peter Klaver. He could help them anesthetize the animals. “Today he happened to have an appointment in the north of the country, so luckily he could also come here,” says Van Gemerden.
Veterinarian Peter Klaver explains how he anesthetizes the pot-bellied pigs, and also gives the pot-bellied pigs an original name: (text continues below video)