A pig is an animal that causes neglect in most people in the world. And this is not only about Muslims and Jews, who consider it an unclean animal, which can not only be eaten, but also be nearby, raised for sale. Europeans also disliked the pig, endowing it with negative qualities. There are many statements containing a negative and contemptuous attitude towards the pig:
- Do not eat like a pig.
- Put the pig at the table - she and her legs on the table.
- What kind of pig behavior?
- Do not sword beads in front of pigs!
- Knows a lot like a pig in oranges.
- What kind of disgusting lit here!
- Well, they pissed me off!
Maybe this attitude of people towards pigs was facilitated by their eternal wallowing in the mud or not very attractive muzzle, gluttony, or maybe people disliked this animal for its nasty character and terrible rumors that this creature could eat piglets and even humans. In the article we will try to figure out whether this is really so, delve into historical sources and find out whether it is true that pigs eat people.
Who is a pig?
First, consider what this pet is. The pig has a fairly ancient origin. Scientists have determined that primitive pig-like creatures appeared on planet Earth as far back as 55 million years ago. Their variety is impressive. Ancient pigs were ranging in size from a rabbit to 2 meters in height and 3 in length. Giants called entelodonts.
There was another species with a horn on its forehead. They were slightly smaller than entelodonts, but much larger than modern individuals. Already at that time they were omnivorous, and had large incisors, fangs, and low-crown cheek molars. With fangs, they fought off opponents, dug huge holes in the ground, extracted roots and dug up the roots of plants.
In addition to pigs, pecarias and hippos are also included in the classification of the suborder. Although pigs have hooves and are classified as artiodactyls, they are non-ruminant. Their stomach can not digest only plant foods, they need protein. Therefore, the question of whether a pig can eat a person, the answer may well be in the affirmative.
The ancestors of domestic pigs - wild boars living in nature, are considered scavengers. They devour the found corpses of animals. Therefore, it can be argued that a hungry pig, which the owner did not feed for a long time, is able to go in search of any food on its own. Do pigs eat people? We will deal with this further.
Characteristic
Since pigs descended from wild boars, they passed on the qualities of this formidable animal, which is better not to meet for a walk in the forest. This is a fairly intelligent and quick-witted creature. Scientists often conducted experiments to study the behavior of a pig. It turned out that in some cases she showed ingenuity and excellent memory better than a dog. She was included in the ten most intelligent animals in the world.
I.I. Akimushkin observed how the pig quickly orientated itself in the new situation. She perfectly understood how to open the cabinet doors, behind which was a bowl of food. However, even he called the pig hasty and "criminal." He probably knew if a pig could eat a man.
Academician I.P. Pavlov noted as a result of research that a pig is a very nervous animal. It loves constancy and, if something unusual happens, it is terribly worried and nervous.
Describing this animal, I want to note that it swims beautifully, is not afraid of water, is capable of climbing up to 30 km per day for prey, and has an unusual sense of smell. Pigs bathe in the mud solely to rid the skin of parasites, ticks and other insects. The thick crust of dirt formed on the body dries up and prevents pests and bloodsuckers from getting to the skin.
Why a pig eats piglets
We have not yet figured out whether a domestic pig can eat a person, but we know for sure that pigs often eat their newly born piglets. The hosts worry why this is happening. There are several reasons for this aggressive behavior towards your children.
Firstly, the pig is tired of constant birth. She is angry at the kids, because of which she was ill. In this case, even the breeders need to give the pig a rest and skip a couple of hunts in a row. Secondly, a pig may lack vitamins and minerals. So, the owners of this animal should review its nutrition, increase the diet and add minerals, vitamins and minerals to food.
In ancient Egypt, pigs noticed this ability and worshiped the goddess of heaven, Tut, in whom children (stars) disappeared from the sky in the mornings and appeared again in the evenings.
Some well-known artists have used this habit of pigs in their statements. For example, the writer J. Joyce wrote about his homeland: "Ireland, like a pig, devours its children!" B. Grebenshchikov used the same phrase in his song, only referring to Russia.
The reader already understands that since a pig can eat its piglets, and a wild boar does not disdain carrion, then a person could easily become a wonderful addition to the diet. So can a pig eat a man? We will look for the answer in judicial documents of France.
Sow trial
In the Middle Ages, there were many stray pigs who quietly walked around villages and even cities. Hungry animals have always sought food close to humans. In addition to waste, pigs did not disdain to go into open houses in search of edibles. There were times when a baby lay in the cradle on the path of a hungry sow. So, if you are asked if pigs eat people, you can calmly answer that an adult is able to eat kids.
Law enforcement officers grabbed such animals and judged them, like people who committed a crime. Historians explain this behavior of medieval residents in different ways. Some people think that they used to think that before God all beings are equal, therefore, they must also be punished for criminal behavior. Other researchers suggested that such open vessels encouraged animal owners to look after them more closely, and their parents to keep babies unattended.
During the trial of pigs, all necessary procedures were followed: witnesses were interrogated, torture was applied, the animal was sentenced and executed by the executioner. Cases of not only eating babies, but also attacks on older children were examined. For example, in 1386 a child was torn apart by an animal leg and face.
Execution of pigs
Now you know if pigs can eat a living person. In French historical documents, records about the trials and executions of these animals are preserved. So, a pig that attacked a child and tore his face and leg, was sentenced to the same torture. She was put on a dress, like that of a girl who was mutilated by a pig, they inflicted similar wounds on her, and the executioner strangled her publicly with a thick rope.
The pig that attacked the baby was hanged in the town square. Records of money spent on the execution of pigs were carried out similarly to human ones. So, in 1457 the following report was written:
- Spent on keeping an animal in prison 6 sous.
- Paid for a cart on which a pig was taken to the scaffold, 6 sous.
- The pay for the executioner, who was specially called from Paris, was 54 sous.
- They tied a pig with a rope, the cost of which was 2 sou.
- Total spent 68 sous.
Because the pig ate a man, she was sentenced to death. But there were cases of acquittal, which shows the seriousness of the judicial system of France in the Middle Ages. In 1457, the piglets were justified, whose mother was executed for killing a man. The documents say that during the investigation it became reliably known that the participation of piglets in the crime has not been established.
Now you know whether it is true that pigs can eat humans. But the reasons for this behavior of animals are not clear. Why do pigs eat people? What circumstances provoke them to this? Let's look further at what drives the sow in such cases, whether it can attack an adult with the aim of eating, and whether such attacks are encountered in modern society.
Why do pigs eat people
Pigs are considered omnivorous animals, but they have no desire to eat only meat or specifically attack a person to satisfy their hunger. However, these animals do not see much difference between the meat of a person and the rest of the food. Even a hungry pig will not attack a person just like that. It can provoke the smell of blood.
As a rule, starving animals of weak people are chosen for attack. It can be a wounded, sick, helpless child or an old man. Several cannibalistic pigs escaped into danger. It is very dangerous to meet a wild animal one on one.
Known tragic incidents
If you still doubt whether a pig can eat a person, then read the real story that happened in Russia. In the winter of 2008, a tragedy occurred in the village of Mikhalkovo, located in close proximity to Tula. The lonely old man kept a large number of ducks, dogs, and cats in the household. The house was old, dilapidated and desolate. It was in this building that 70-year-old Valentin Belousov lived together with 5 pigs. Once the neighbors found that a pensioner was not visible for several days. The postman raised panic, and when he looked through the window of the house he saw a gnawed skull lying on the floor.
The neighbors called the police, but even law enforcement officers were afraid to go into the house with the angry animals. From hunger, pigs rushed at the door and beat their faces. At first they were thrown food, and only then could people enter a room that looked more like a barn than a human dwelling. On the floor were found the remains of clothes, hair and the skull of a poor owner.
Since the man was not listed as a drunkard, they thought that he had a heart attack. Hungry animals could well eat an already dead body. Therefore, they did not begin to execute them, as in medieval France, but transferred animals to the relatives of the tragically deceased Belousov.
The Italian mafia used pigsties to hide corpses. There are cases when in this way they got rid of rivals from other mafia clans. According to Simon Pepe, you can understand how much a pig eats a person. He said that Francesco Raccost, who had been beaten with metal bars, was thrown into a herd of pigs, and in 8 minutes 16 animals ate a 90-kilogram man.
Tragedy in a chinese village
In November 2014, a terrible tragedy occurred in a Chinese village in Jiangsu. A two-year-old kid named Wei Tsao, whom his parents affectionately called Keke, played in the yard. Unaware of the terrible danger, the child approached the place where the recently born pig was kept. The animal saw a threat in the face of the baby for its cubs and rushed to the attack.
While the adults ran up to the cries of the child, Keke was completely torn to pieces by a pig mad with blood. Parents, approaching, witnessed that the pig was eating the baby’s head. In horror, the villagers tied the animal to a pillar and beat him to death. After checking the contents of the pig’s stomach, they were convinced that it was she who killed their beloved son.
Researchers explain the behavior of pigs by the fact that during pregnancy and immediately after birth, the animal, even usually quiet and quiet, becomes aggressive, and every female in nature tries to protect her offspring. There are many cases when, for example, a bear attacked a traveler, if he found himself in the way of her and cubs. Now it becomes clear why the pig ate a person. After the tragedy in China, it was forbidden to keep pigs in the yards. They should only be located in special enclosed pens.
In what cases can the pig attack
After reading the article, many animal owners will think about whether a domestic pig can eat a person. Experienced breeders notice that from birth, piglets have been aggressive when fighting for the mother’s nipple. The hierarchy in the herd is determined by the strength and size of the hog. Already growing up, the piglets sort out the relationship between themselves, moving in case of victory on the hierarchical ladder, occupying a higher position among the rest. This feature is inherent in older individuals.
Why do animals attack mainly weak, wounded or old people, as well as children? Because they feel superior. They need to show that they are better and stronger than the rest of the surrounding people. However, many cases of attack occur without any explanation. English pigs are considered particularly aggressive, which can push a passerby and, when he falls, attack the poor fellow with the whole flock and bite him.
Many cases have been described when pigs rush at passers-by, first lowering their heads down and digging the ground with anger before throwing. Piglets are very fast animals, despite their outward clumsiness, they are able to chase a victim, to knock a person down. Often people after biting pigs are sick for a long time from infection, since animals are unclean.
Can a pig specifically kill
The answer to this question is unambiguous. Yes maybe. According to statistics, in America an average of 22 people die every year from pet attacks. Of all the cases, about 75% of the animals deliberately attacked their owners. But this data is common, of all livestock, and not just pigs.
Recently, in 2017, in Darlaston, Marie Yates was attacked by a pig. A woman sat in bed reading a book when she heard a noise. Looking out into the yard, she saw a 30-kilogram pig, which destroyed the doors of the barn and trampled and ate all the plants in the garden. The woman naively thought she could drive her away with a broom. But the animal attacked her and tore her leg in several places. I had to sew up a wound 8 cm long and 2 cm deep. The neighbors escaped to cries for help, only thanks to the intervention of the police and many people did the woman survived.
Knowing for sure that pigs are dangerous creatures, be careful to keep them in an enclosure or a special pen. Take care of yourself and do not leave your children unattended!