Alexis Daisy, a tiny piglet with a powerful story of resilience. Recently brought to us by a caring community member from Agua Dulce, Alexis came to us under heartbreaking circumstances. Her mother and siblings had tragically passed, and Alexis was just a few days old—vulnerable and in critical condition. In those early days, we honestly didn’t know if she would make it. But with round-the-clock care from our incredible volunteers and the love of her “substitute mama” Robin, Alexis Daisy is now thriving! She’s blossoming into a healthy, happy piglet, and we’re hopeful she’ll soon make friends with our resident pig, Sarah Jessica Porker.
ORDER: Artiodactyla
FAMILY: Suidae
GENUS: Sus
SPECIES: Domesticus
They are one of the smaller domestic breeds of pig, and their most prominent feature is their pot belly. They have been called mini pigs, though they can grow up to 300 lbs. In Vietnam, they are a symbol of wealth and happiness, but here, they have become an issue due to the fact that people buy pigs while they are very young. These pigs continue to grow and grow and grow which oftentimes leads to abandonment when people realize how big they really are. They are omnivores with a very sensitive sense of smell which gives them the ability to find food buried beneath the ground. This is called rooting. They are primarily raised for food in Vietnam but are pets here in the states. They should not be kept in your home but in an agricultural setting and you should be aware of the fact that their skin can burn in the sun and they require pedicures four times a year. They reach sexual maturity at the age of four months. The female goes thru 115 day gestation period and the litters can be anywhere from 1 to 15 piglets. They nurse every hour and wean at 8 weeks of age.
Threats
Human consumption and exploitation, factory farming.
Conservation Status
LC - Least Concern