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Domestic pig

Sus scrofa domesticus

Description:

A farmyard favourite. This pig is one of the luckier ones, and was spotted roaming free-range with his mates around a small alpine farm.

Habitat:

Farming facilities, yards, fields.

Notes:

It is believed that the domestic pig's ancestor, the wild boar, was domesticated as early as 13,000 BC in the Tigris River basin. Pigs are intelligent animals and can be trained similarly to dogs. For example they can be trained to find truffles.

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22 Comments

Jeannette
Jeannette 12 years ago

I know, sorry ;-P

I just love to see animals that normally are kept inside running around outdoors :)

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 12 years ago

You started it all Jeanette:-) I added this spotting before the Captive Animals mission was created, but I will now join the mission and add it to it.

Jeannette
Jeannette 12 years ago

The happy pig that got all famous :)

I normally use the mission captive animals to indicate that it is captive, but maybe it is a good idea to change the category :)

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 12 years ago

Thank you all for your comments! I am glad this spotting started this debate and may help to clarify some issues. A pet is an animal kept for company, whereas domesticated animals are generally kept for more utilitarian purposes (in that case, meat production). Of course a pet is "domesticated" as well. I could totally have a pig as pet, but this animal wasn't one. The category "domesticated animals" does not exist on Noah, and it is unlikely to get created as this is not the focus of this site. Peter has suggested that in the future we will have a box which can be ticked indicating "captive" for all zoo, pet and domesticated animals. I normally don't post domesticated species or pets here; I did it in this case because this pig was actually free to roam and shared a habitat with some of the wild species I saw on this hike. The genus and species are also idetical to that of the wild boars which can be seen in the same habitat.

Jeannette
Jeannette 12 years ago

Lars I undestand that, but if it is as he says the zoo animals also should be catagorized as pets...

Or maybe I don't understand it...

LarsKorb
LarsKorb 12 years ago

Jeannette - Ashish was trying to point out that domestic animals should be categorized differently to wild ones. Since an appropriate category is missing, the only option is to put them into "pets" or "other" - and "pets" apeears to be the more appropriate section due to the connection to humans.

Jeannette
Jeannette 12 years ago

@ Bayucca

Even if your second name was Clooney
You would still be a bit Looney
;-P

Jeannette
Jeannette 12 years ago

@ Ashish, is there a place on the sight where the pet category is explained, if it is correct that all animals in human possesion is to te catagorized as pets, then all the photos of zoo animals should as well...

ShannaB
ShannaB 12 years ago

I agree, LarsKorb. It's not a pet, but it's not really 'wildlife' either.

LarsKorb
LarsKorb 12 years ago

A domestic category might help here...

ShannaB
ShannaB 12 years ago

I don't think I'd classify it as a pet either... If it was being raised in the backyard and being fed beer Gordon-Ramsay-style to enhance its eventual flavour, I might call it a pet. But a random spotting of a farmed animal in a paddock... not a pet.

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

@Jeannette.. All organisms under Human possession are categorized as Pet. This one is not wild and its tag on ear indicated its Pet. Since long ago may be since Stone age many animals are survived under Human possession and they are depend on Human colonies. This Pig is looked to be rared for Human benefit.

bayucca
bayucca 12 years ago

Ätsch! Yes, good argument about pets! Since my second name is not Clooney I would not put it in pets.

Jeannette
Jeannette 12 years ago

You lost me :)

Ashish, I don't think it's a pet... You normally don't eat your pets...

bayucca
bayucca 12 years ago

Dere isch sauwohl!

Jeannette
Jeannette 12 years ago

@ Bayucca

Ja, es ist offensichtlich :)

Ashish Nimkar
Ashish Nimkar 12 years ago

Daniele.. Category must be Pet as this one look under possession of Human..!!

bayucca
bayucca 12 years ago

Die geniesst das so richtig!!

Jeannette
Jeannette 12 years ago

Nice to see a pig outside, unfortunately it is not a sight you see every day...

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 12 years ago

As far as I could judge his life was as good as one can get as a domestic pig!

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 12 years ago

Thanks monkey-mind!

a happy looking pig! :D

DanielePralong
Spotted by
DanielePralong

Fribourg/Freiburg, Switzerland

Spotted on Jun 19, 2011
Submitted on Jun 23, 2011

Spotted for Mission

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