FW: Animals In Print, Issue 11/03/00

December 13, 2000

Extract - I know it's a little old, but...if anyone has any ideas, it must just

save some piggies...

Ljbeane1 [Ljbeane1]

Saturday, 4 November 2000 04:05

undisclosed-recipients:;

Animals In Print, Issue 11/03/00

Ossabaw Island pigs

I have recently become aware of an unfortunate and very sad problem on

Ossabaw Island, Georgia.

Ossabaw Island is home to a population of feral hogs who have lived on the

Island, in genetic isolation, for 450 - 500 years. The pigs now living on the

Island are descended from Spanish pigs either shipwrecked or purposefully

left on the Island in the 16th-17th century.

While other barrier islands in the region were developed for human

enterprises, Ossabaw Island remained essentially undeveloped due to the

efforts of Eleanor Torrey (Sandy) West, whose family purchased the Island in

the 1920's. Sandy West donated Ossabaw Island to the State of Georgia in the

1990's. Sandy West loves the pigs!

In May 2000, the final report of the Georgia Department of Natl. Resources

Management Committee for Ossabaw Island recommended that WRD should eradicate

all feral swine from Ossabaw Island (page 29) With the exception of one

management subcommittee member (I Lehr Brisbin) the following recommendation

received consensus; WRD should adopt a long-term goal of eliminating all

feral hogs on Ossabaw Island. Reservations concerning elimination of hogs on

Ossabaw Island were expressed because of publications in the peer-reviewed

scientific literature suggesting unique characteristics worthy of further

scientific study in these animals (Brisbin et al. 1977), their value as a

game animal and the cultural importance of their presence on the island

through several hundred years. The suggestion that WRD adopt the

recommendation of its 1992 Ossabaw Island Feral Hog Advisory Committee

(Johnson et al. 1992), which recommended significant population reduction

with a core remnant population of these animals being maintained on the

island in perpetuity, was the opinion of the minority.

WRD will continue to remove feral hogs to result in no measurable ecological

impact. A variety of lethal techniques will be used to achieve this goal

including but not limited to, trapping and shooting, shooting by WRD

personnel, and managed hunts. At current population levels, removal may at

times need to exceed 2500 per year.

Ossabaw Island Comprehensive Management Plan:

<A HREF= " http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/wild/game_mgmt/ " >Game Management</A>

http://www.dnr.state.ga.us/dnr/wild/game_mgmt/

Ossabaw Island Swine have been recognized as an endangered livestock breed by

the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy. They estimate fewer than 200 (and

this is a generous estimate) individuals live in captivity off the island

(http://www.albc-usa.org). The ALBC has secured as much as $30,000 for saving

the Sicilian donkeys on the island, who are also scheduled for elimination.

They have NO PLANS to do anything for the pigs (personal communication, Dr.

Don Bixby).

I'm writing to you because I don't know what to do! This is a unique

population of very lovable, personable pigs who have survived on this island

despite incredible odds for 500 years! They are essentially the 'Misty of

Chincoteague' pigs. I have two Ossabaw swine sisters who live with me on my

farm. They are beautiful, intelligent creatures.

There is no mention of the 'eradication' of these pigs on the swine breed

site of Oklahoma State University,

<A HREF= " http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/SWINE/index.htm " >Breeds of

Livestock - Swine Breeds</A>

http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/SWINE/index.htm

Or on the ALBC site, which talks glowingly of their value to the world. Nor

is there any mention of the elimination plans on the Ossabaw Island homepage.

<A HREF= " http://www.ossabawisland.org/wildlife.html " >Ossabaw Island Foundation

</A>

http://www.ossabawisland.org/wildlife.html

There is however a charming description of the Ossabaw pigs history as well

as a good picture. The Ossabaw Island Foundation also sells a book written by

Sandy West, Maria Bosomworth and William Rodgers, a true story of love and

friendship between an Ossabaw piglet and a puppy. Complete with photographs.

A friend of mine talked to Sandy West last week. Mrs. West still lives on the

Island. According to her, there were people with guns on the beaches,

including a SWAT team, using the pigs for target practice. My information is

definitely second hand. Is this the beginning of the eradication program or

simply business as usual during hunting season? Or eradication posing as

hunting season? Another second hand story from a tourist to Ossabaw Island

says that she was told that the Ossabaw sows are being given birth control

medication of some kind with the goal of eliminating all pigs from the Island.

Is this the nice story they're telling tourists?

I live in Fargo North Dakota and have no way to determine what is really

going on at the moment. However the Georgia DNR plans are frighteningly real

and will be implemented sometime soon. Is there anything I can do, as a very

non-influential individual who loves pigs? To the best of my understanding,

Sandy West has tried to garner support for the pigs, to no avail.

I'd think the story would appeal to the public. The pigs are very photogenic

and charming (I've got many photos of my two Ossabaw sisters). In addition

the pigs have been recognized by the scientific community as genetically

unique, thus how can this eradication program proceed? In addition the

previous Ossabaw Island management plan, in 1992, did in fact recommend

keeping a population of pigs on the island (Johnson et al. 1992. Report of

the committee on Ossabaw Island hogs. 1 July 1992. Ga. Dept. of Natural

Resource. Div. (report on file), Brunswick. 5pp.)

In any case, I'm at my wits end.....no one seems to be interested in taking

on the plight of these wonderful creatures. Any suggestions you could provide

would be greatly appreciated!

Alison Kirby

Please, anyone with any suggestions or ways to help the pigs write Alison at:

kirby (Alison)

December 13, 2000

PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOPUR MAIL LIST. I DO NOT WANT TO RECEIVE THIS

ANYMORE. I HAVE BEEN WARNED BY MY SUPERIORS TO TERMINATE THIS.

PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christine [sMTP:friesian7]

Wednesday, December 13, 2000 5:34 AM

animalactionalerts ; Animaladvocacy ;

Animalrightsnow ; animals ;

FRIENDSinDEEDorg ; ;

helptheanimals ; NECAAP2

FW: Animals In Print, Issue 11/03/00

Extract - I know it's a little old, but...if anyone has any ideas, it must

just save some piggies...

Ljbeane1 [Ljbeane1]

Saturday, 4 November 2000 04:05

undisclosed-recipients:;

Animals In Print, Issue 11/03/00

Ossabaw Island pigs

I have recently become aware of an unfortunate and very sad problem on

Ossabaw Island, Georgia.

Ossabaw Island is home to a population of feral hogs who have lived on the

Island, in genetic isolation, for 450 - 500 years. The pigs now living on

the

Island are descended from Spanish pigs either shipwrecked or purposefully

left on the Island in the 16th-17th century.

While other barrier islands in the region were developed for human

enterprises, Ossabaw Island remained essentially undeveloped due to the

efforts of Eleanor Torrey (Sandy) West, whose family purchased the Island

in

the 1920's. Sandy West donated Ossabaw Island to the State of Georgia in

the

1990's. Sandy West loves the pigs!

In May 2000, the final report of the Georgia Department of Natl. Resources

Management Committee for Ossabaw Island recommended that WRD should

eradicate

all feral swine from Ossabaw Island (page 29) With the exception of one

management subcommittee member (I Lehr Brisbin) the following

recommendation

received consensus; WRD should adopt a long-term goal of eliminating all

feral hogs on Ossabaw Island. Reservations concerning elimination of hogs

on