Pet Pigs On Route To New Refuge in Wellington

According to animal welfare group HUHA (Helping You Help Animals), 50 pet pigs owned by Stu Edmondson are now loaded on trailers and heading to their shelter in Wellington. Locals were out in force this morning rounding up the pigs for the trip to Wellington.

The 309 Road has been synonymous with the pigs and many thousands of people have seen the pigs that Stu referred to as his family.

Tragedy struck just over a week ago when two hunters, Kevin Mabbott died, and Aaron Buckland was seriously injured when they were shot on the 309 Road on the Coromandel Peninsula. Stu Edmondson aka Pig Man was charged with murder and attempted murder and has been held in custody since the shooting. The 77 old bare foot farmer loved his family of pigs and locals immediately stepped in to care for the pigs while a long-term option for their care was found.

The long-term option has been to call on HUHA for help and today the pigs have been rounded up and removed to a new life in a shelter near Wellington.

Spokesperson for HUHA, Carolyn Press-McKenzie, told CFM they had collected all the pet animals, the group had worked with family members, local community supporters, police and council to make arrangements over the future welfare of the animals.

The incident has deeply saddened all people and especially those who knew Stu who have reported numerous times of people harassing the 77-year-old Stu and killing or hurting his animals.

Stu and the pigs have achieved international notoriety, with many international stories leading to visits from people from around the world to see Stu and the pigs on the 309 Road.

It will not be the same again after this incident, and many will miss their encounters with the pigs as the travel the road on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Stu is due to reappear in court in early February, his lawyers said there will be an application for electronically monitored bail.