Kunekune

Kunekune are extremely friendly and gentle. For this reason, they are often used as therapy animals. Their distinguishing features include two tassels u der the chin, which the Maori have given the name Piri Piri. They also have notably short legs and a short snout. Their coat of dense bristles occurs in a wide variety of colours and patterns.

Kunekune are native to New Zealand and were kept by the Maori as free-range pigs. Their exact origin is unknown. It is thought that their ancestors were introduced to New Zealand by whalers and merchants who arrived by sea. The word kunekune means “fat and round” in the Maori language – a fi tting d scription for the robust animal.

1,300 genes form excellent smell receptors in pigs. In humans, there are only 350 – our sense of smell is limited accordingly.