Tuesday 10 October 2006

Piggy cam star has more piglets

A pig featured on a Cornish webcam which has attracted thousands of viewers from across the world has had a second farrow of piglets.
Delores and her 14 new piglets can be seen via the camera which is hosted by Saltash Community College.

The 20-stone Duroc cross-bred sow, who gave birth to her first farrow in March, attracted 21,000 hits on Saturday after the piglets were born.

The college has described the response as "amazing"

The pigcam was first set up so pupils at the college and other nearby schools could watch how Delores was progressing with her first pregnancy.

It was so successful that it was quickly set up again when teachers found out the 18-month-old sow was expecting a second farrow.

Teachers behind the project hoped it would help pupils gain a better understanding of animals.

Saltash College biology teacher Tim Venner said: "She teaches everything to do with the composition of an animal; with feeding, nutrition and particularly with reproduction, which is taught on courses from Year Seven right through to A-level."

Delores' first farrow got comments and good wishes from across the world and her second brood is again attracting international attention.

'Sense of community'

Saltash College Deputy Head Teacher Dave Garland said: "It's been absolutely phenomenal interest from right across the world.

"It's been mostly from Europe, but also from the United States, Australia, The Far East, from Canada, the list goes on."

"I think it's the sense of community we've got with the site. She's got her own blog where people can post comments, and is also a star on YouTube.

"She must the be the only pig in the world that has got so much IT connected with her."

The 12 piglets from her first farrowing were reared successfully and sold on.

Source: BBC