For nearly two weeks, a clever little piggy roamed free, bringing Auckland's State Highway 16 to a standstill and evading capture from authorities. But finally, on Thursday afternoon, the mischievous hog fell into a well-laid trap, all thanks to the irresistible allure of a banana.
This elusive pig has been causing quite the stir as it held up traffic at the Te Atatū off-ramp, eluding police, Waka Kotahi, and Auckland Council Animal Management. But, as they say, even the wildest hog can't resist the call of food.
With some clever planning, Animal Management Officer Jade Cathcart and the team managed to outsmart the cunning swine. After researching piggy preferences, they discovered his love for corn, melons, and, most importantly, bananas. Armed with this knowledge, they set the perfect bait, and it worked like a charm. The piggy took the bait, munched on the delicious bananas, and unwittingly entered a cage on the side of Te Atatū Road.
Animal Management Officer Jade Cathcart with Police following the capture of the pig. IMAGE: Auckland Council
It took a few attempts to win it over, but eventually, it found itself safely captured and taken to the Henderson Animal Shelter. Its highway adventures might have amused some, but they were certainly causing plenty of road rage and disrupting daily life for Aucklanders.
The mischievous pig will remain at the Henderson Animal Shelter for the next seven days before it will be put up for adoption and it should come as no surprise that the shelter has been flooded with inquiries. For now, it'll be enjoying the comforts of the Henderson shelter, where it can feast to its heart's content.
Animal Management team leader Aaron Neary expressed his relief that the pig's chaotic escapade had finally come to an end. Chasing a speedy pig on a busy motorway was no easy task, and there was always the risk of causing an accident he told RNZ.
The mystery surrounding the pig's origin still remains. The team speculates that he might have jumped off the back of a truck and found his way into the bush. However, no concrete leads have surfaced yet.
