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The Kunekune () is a small breed of
By the 1980s, only an estimated 50 purebred Kunekune remained. Michael Willis and John Simister, wildlife park owners, started a breeding recovery programme, which encouraged other recovery efforts. , the breed no longer faces extinction, with breed societies in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In 1993, two were imported into the United States from the UK.
The British Kunekune Pig Society
Mammals of New Zealand Pig breeds originating in New Zealand
domestic pig
The pig (''Sus domesticus''), also called swine (: swine) or hog, is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is named the domestic pig when distinguishing it from other members of the genus '' Sus''. Some authorities cons ...
from New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
. Kunekune are hairy with a rotund build, and may bear wattles hanging from their lower jaws. Their colour ranges from black and white, to ginger, cream, gold-tip, black, brown, and tricoloured. They have a docile, friendly nature.
History
The breed is believed to have descended from an Asian domestic breed introduced to New Zealand in the early 19th century by whalers or traders. They differ markedly from theferal pig
A feral pig is a domestic pig
The pig (''Sus domesticus''), also called swine (: swine) or hog, is an omnivorous, domesticated, even-toed, hoofed mammal. It is named the domestic pig when distinguishing it from other members of the g ...
of European origin known in New Zealand as a "Captain Cooker". The native Māori people
Māori () are the Indigenous peoples of Oceania, indigenous Polynesians, Polynesian people of mainland New Zealand. Māori originated with settlers from East Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of Māori migration canoes, c ...
of New Zealand adopted Kunekune; is a Māori word meaning 'fat and round'.
By the 1980s, only an estimated 50 purebred Kunekune remained. Michael Willis and John Simister, wildlife park owners, started a breeding recovery programme, which encouraged other recovery efforts. , the breed no longer faces extinction, with breed societies in both New Zealand and the United Kingdom. In 1993, two were imported into the United States from the UK.
Behaviour
In 2017, a report of ''Science Daily'' said the Kunekune has remarkable social learning with "astonishingly good memory". The Kunekune can sustain itself by feeding in summer on nothing other than grass.Appearance
The Kunekune is covered in hair which can be long or short, and straight or curly. Hair colours include black, brown, ginger, gold, cream, and spotted combinations. It has a medium to short, slightly upturned snout, often black, and either semilopped or pricked ears. It has a short, round body with short legs and may have two wattles (called ) under its chin. The Kunekune stands about tall. An adult Kunekune can weigh between , males being considerably heavier than females. Ginger Kunekune pig with short hairAs pets
Kunekune can be kept as pets in New Zealand and are a recognised breed of miniature pig. Kunekune cannot be imported intoAustralia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
, as Australia does not allow the import of live pigs for biosecurity reasons. However, breeders have created an alternative Australian breed: the Australian miniature pig.
References
External links
{{Commons categoryThe British Kunekune Pig Society
Mammals of New Zealand Pig breeds originating in New Zealand