Healthy new start in the Clever Pig Lab
For the Kune Kune pigs Helga, Yvonne and Eddie
The Clever Pig Lab at Gut Aiderbichl, under the direction of Dr Marianne Wondrak, has a new addition: Helga, Yvonne and Eddie, three adorable Kune Kune pigs, have been allowed to join the herd of pigs near Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf.
Helga, Yvonne and Eddie can't stay
But the three bring a package from the past – in the form of extra weight. In May 2023, the three pigs were taken in by a caring couple. They lived there in an enclosure with mud baths, plenty of space and fresh air – at first everything seemed ideal.
However, the situation changed in December 2024: for health reasons, the owners were no longer able to look after the animals themselves on a regular basis. Fortunately, a foster home was quickly found. But when the couple were able to look after their pigs again after a long time, they were shocked: all three animals had put on a lot of weight, were suffering from shortness of breath and could only move with difficulty.
It quickly became clear that things could not go on like this. As with us humans, being overweight also has a massive impact on the health of pigs.
Kune Kune pigs don't like to be "fat and round"
Kune Kune pigs originally come from New Zealand. Their name comes from the Maori language and means “fat and round” – an affectionate description of their typical appearance. But despite their name, Kune Kunes should never be overfed. They are grazing pigs with a slow metabolism and feed mainly on grass. They hardly need any concentrated feed.
Many hobby farmers underestimate this. They only mean well or are ill-informed and feed them like typical fattening pigs. The consequences were also clearly visible in Yvonne, Helga and Eddie: Obesity, joint problems and breathing difficulties.
Healthy new start in the Clever Pig Lab
The owner couple already knew Gut Aiderbichl and knew that if anyone could help Helga, Yvonne and Eddie, it was Dr Marianne Wondrak and her team. So the three Kune Kunes were allowed to move to Gut Aiderbichl – to the Clever Pig Lab. Dr Wondrak accompanies the pigs on their health-conscious restart – step by step they learn again what a species-appropriate, balanced diet means.
Marianne Wondrak and her team have already taken the three of them to their hearts and learnt a lot about their idiosyncrasies. Helga, the highest-ranking of the trio, is already curiously exploring the new area. Yvonne loves to be close and loves to have her tummy scratched. Eddie, a calm and gentle boar, has a particular fondness for broccoli.
With patience, exercise and the right food, Helga, Yvonne and Eddie will soon reach their feel-good weight again. At the Clever Pig Lab, they can now be part of a larger pig community – with space to roam, play and simply be pigs.
