Pass out the cigars and other cliches because their are new baby pigs at the Nashville Zoo! Technically they are called Juliana pigs ( Susdomesticus ) and they're the latest edition to Critter Encounters. Three are girls, one is a boy. The three females, who were born in the same litter and a male, born with the same father as the females. (Oooh, the family tree drama!)
According to Zoo officials, the pigs will stay in Critter Encounters, so the guests can interact with them, and will also be trained to take leashed-walks throughout the Zoo. Other than during colder months where they will have access to a heated indoor area, they will be able to choose to be out and active or retreat into their house when they need to rest.
“We hope when guests interact with our Juliana pigs they will be inspired to help other species of pigs that are declining in the wild once they see firsthand how intelligent and special pigs are,” said Megan Cohn, Nashville Zoo Contact Area Supervisor.
Juliana pigs are highly intelligent creatures. They also get along with everybody, making them great Zoo ambassadors that can interact with Nashville Zoo visitors. Juliana pigs also have incredible noses that are more sensitive than human smell AND they can dig with their nose. If fact, they are so good at sniffing, they are often trained for truffle & mushroom hunting, as well as recently used for law enforcement searches. Maybe they help superheros fight crime too.
A fully grown Juliana pig will weigh between 20-40lbs and be between 10-16" tall. This species does 95% percent of its growing during the first year, and is considered an adult at two years.
All pig photos courtesy of the Nashville Zoo.