Rambler attacked by ‘gang of pigs out for trouble’
A RAMBLER in the New Forest has told of being attacked by a “gang” of pigs that have been allowed to roam free.
Four pigs charged at Paul Lipscombe, a retired photography lecturer, as he strolled close to Mill Lawn, near Burley in the national park. He said the animals looked as if they were “out for trouble”.
Domestic pigs have been released in the forest during autumn since the time of William the Conqueror. Farmers let them free in the area to roam for around 60 days.
The practice is called “pannage”, and up to 600 pigs work their way through the forest eating acorns, which are harmless to them but can poison other animals such as cattle and the forest’s famous ponies, and other nuts.
Mr Lipscombe, 64, said he was bitten by the “lead” animal, and as he backed off the others continued advancing on him. Then he witnessed the same group of pigs, each as big as a medium-sized dog, charge two women across a river.
The lecturer, from Westbourne, Hants, is being treated by his GP with a course of antibiotics, after the attack at 11am on Wednesday.
He said: “I was just having a quiet walk. All of a sudden I saw these four young pigs, which more or less came out of nowhere, making a beeline towards me. I’m used to animals, so it didn’t bother me. That was until the leader ran straight into me and bit me. I thought, what do I do now – because there are four of the blighters.
“So I didn’t run, I just backed off. But they kept coming, then suddenly stopped.” About 200 yards away he saw
‘There could have been a different end to the story if I had a child with me. The teeth of these things looked sharp enough to take a finger off’
two young women walking a dog. “The pigs then went for them,” he said. “These women chose to go across a small river to get away from them, but the pigs were straight in the water and up the other side after them.”
The photographer said he was too shaken up to think of taking any pictures. He said: “As absurd as it sounds, it appeared like they were out for trouble – like a gang of teenagers.
“They appeared to be quite young pigs, and I’m not sure they should be in the forest at that age. There could have been a different end to the story if I had a child with me. The teeth of these things looked sharp enough to take a finger off.”
This year’s pannage season began on Sept 11 and is due to end on Nov 12. Walkers are encouraged to explore the forest to see the pigs.
Sue Westwood, clerk to the Verderers of the New Forest, said: “We are looking into the situation to ascertain exactly what took place and trying to identify the pigs in question. Our advice to people in general is with all our forest animals try to give them plenty of room.
“While this incident appears to not involve the man getting too close to the animals, some people do get a bit close to them.”