No place like home when in trouble

Press, 3 September 1986, Page 41

No place like home when in trouble

PA Whangarei Gunshots and the sound of breaking glass brought chaos to the Paratene family’s Whangaruru home when a 50kg longsnouted tusker sought sanctuary in the family lounge. The animal did not wait for any door to be opened. It charged straight through the glass pane in the front door. Another 14 pigs kept by Mr and Mrs Pita Paratene also bolted. Nine of them have so far not reappeared. “I don’t know what has happened to them,” Mrs Paratene said. The incident began at dusk when Mrs Paratene heard pighunters shooting illegally on forestry land adjoining the family property.

“Just after the shots my husband came home,” she said. “He went after the two men and tried to find out why they were shooting. ' You need a licence and people usually tell us if they are going shooting near our place.” While her husband was trying to catch the men and their dog the Paratenes’ 14 tame pigs were making tracks in every direction. “One of our bigger pigs got so scared he ran straight through our glass front door.” The pig then caused havoc for her three children who were “jumping up and down” trying to get out of the way. The incident was reported to the police.