A family of pet pigs were found toes up at a Hawaii golf course after poachers illegally trespassed and shot the pigs under the cover of night.
Acting as somewhat of a refuge to a select number of pigs, the Hawaii Country Club kept a small family of pigs sanctioned to keep the grounds clear of invasive plant species. Serving something like mascots for the golf course, local golfers have come to recognize the family of pigs and treat them as such.
“I’ve been here for a long time as a golfer. We feed them snacks and play with them. They were here before we were, and we enjoyed them,” said Mitchell Ortiz, a member at Hawaii Country Club.
Given the fact that the course serves as a home to the pigs, manager Tom Berg is speaking out against the poaching incidents that have plagued the course for a number of years now.
“There are trespassers here who think they are doing us a favor. They are not getting rid of any invasive species if we give the animals refuge. The pigs didn’t hurt the nearby farms and or the golf course itself,” Hawaii Country Club manager Tom Berg said.
This is the second incident this year after five piglets were gunned down on the course in February, leaving the only surviving members to be illegally shot in this latest incident.
Golf course and wildlife officials are reminding the public that trespassing and hunting without the required permits in Hawaii is illegal. The search continues for the poachers involved.