LAST GIFT OF SUMMER: BEARDSLEY ZOO WELCOMES SEVEN GUINEA HOG PIGLETS

Photo Credit: Scott Vincent

(Bridgeport, CT) – Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is delighted to announce the arrival of seven playful Guinea hog piglets to the farmyard family. Proud parents Ethel and Harry Plopper welcomed their piglets on Sunday, August 31st with little ones who are already stealing hearts and giving the Zoo a joyful last gift of summer.
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Guinea hog piglets are known for their quite amazing early development, being born with their eyes open and the ability to move around immediately. Our newest additions are already full of energy and exploring their surroundings with curiosity.

"We are thrilled to welcome these piglets to our Zoo family," said CEO of Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo, Dr. Jim Wharton. "Guinea hogs are a heritage breed at risk of becoming an endangered domestic species, so we are proud to play a role in ensuring their survival. Watching the piglets grow and interact is a fun experience that we’re excited to share with our visitors."​

The public is invited to visit the farmyard and see the piglets alongside their mother, where their playful antics are sure to charm guests of all ages.​

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About Guinea Hogs (Sus scrofa scrofa)
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Guinea hogs are large and square bodied with bristly red hair. They have long tails and pointed ears, but today they are domesticated to be smaller with often black hair. They grow to a height of 21-24 inches and weigh 150-300 lbs. They have an advanced sense of taste and can quickly identify objects by tasting them. They are quick learners and have substantial memories. They are hardy grazers and foragers. They eat shrubs, weeds, bird eggs, snakes, mice, grasshoppers, roots, tubers and even manure.

As a domesticated species, they are classified as threatened by the Livestock Conservancy. The Guinea Hog can be found in Farmyard at the zoo!
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For more information about Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo and upcoming events click here.