Hogging the limelight

BELFAST'S Zoo's latest arrivals are Malcolm and Mabel - the Visayan warty pigs.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Apr 2010, 12:41 BST
Updated 13th Apr 2010, 14:31 BST

The Visayan warty pig is critically endangered, and is the most critically endangered of all wild pigs.

Belfast Zoo is now one of only four zoos in the UK to look after this species.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Malcolm’s Mohawk style hair-do is responsible for his previous zoo naming him after rocker Malcolm McLaren. It will get bigger as he gets older.

Both of the Visayan warty pigs are 18-months-old, but Mabel is a lot smaller than Malcolm.

They follow each other around, and are clearly falling for one another.

Belfast Zoo hopes that when they reach the right age they will breed and contribute towards the global breeding programme for Visayan warty pigs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Historically these pigs were native to six islands within the Philippines but they have already become extinct on four of them.

You too can contribute to the day-to-day care of Malcolm and Mabel by adopting a Visayan warty pig. Visit www.belfastzoo.co.uk/adoption or call 028 9078 2085.