British wildlife trust on the lookout for runaway pigs

CLITHEROE, England, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Officials with a British wildlife trust said they are searching for three young pigs that fled while they were being used to graze a forest area.

Phil Dykes, a Lancashire Wildlife Trust East Lancashire reserves officer, said the three saddleback sows, each around 5 months old, took off last week while grazing in the Forest of Bowland and he is now attempting to track the animals, The Mirror reported Monday.

"Looking out for places where the ground has been dug up or finding pig dung has enabled us to work out which direction they headed from their enclosure," Dykes said.

Dykes said the pigs are thought to be somewhere in the area northwest of Clitheroe, England.

"The markings on the pigs are very distinctive, being basically black with a pink band around the centre of the body giving the appearance of a type of saddle, and hence their name," he said. "Any possible sightings would be good to hear about. We are happy to come out to make further investigations and can readily summon transport to return the pigs safely to their woodland home."