Piglet's cutest new photos revealed!

This morning, Piglet's agent released a new set of photos of the adorable piglet, shot by world-renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.

The black-and-white portraits show the spirited young pig in a range of poses and expressions, from mischievous to soulful.

"These photos capture Piglet's personality perfectly," said Leibovitz. "He's such a lively, expressive animal - it was a joy to photograph him."

According to the agent, the photo session was Piglet's first professional modeling gig. And judging by these photos, it looks like he was born for the camera!

Piglet is the latest victim of Illinois' feral swine problem

ILLINOIS (WSIL) - A young piglet is the latest victim of Illinois' feral swine problem.

The porker was found on a farm near Murphysboro in Jackson County.

"It looked like it had been attacked by a dog or something," said the farmer, who didn't want to be identified. "There were chunks taken out of its side and its face was all bloody."

The farmer estimated the piglet was about six weeks old and weighed only 10 pounds.

Feral swine are an invasive species in Illinois that cause millions of dollars in damage to crops and property each year. Wildlife officials say the animals are also a health hazard because they can transmit diseases, such as swine flu, to humans and other animals.

In June, the state marked the first detection of a wild boar in Illinois in more than 200 years. The animal was killed by a hunter near Marshall in Clark County.

Swine conservation group protests against piglet petting zoos

A conservation group is protesting against piglet petting zoos, claiming that the facilities are promoting the false idea that it is acceptable to keep pigs as pets.

The Swine Conservation Group (SCG) has launched a petition calling for an end to piglet petting zoos, stating that they are "cruel and inhumane." The group says that the petting zoos "give people the wrong impression of pigs by teaching them that they are cute and docile creatures that can be kept as pets."

The SCG also argues that piglet petting zoos are bad for the animals involved, as they can often lead to the pigs being abandoned by their owners when they get too big. "Pigs are highly intelligent animals and deserve to be treated with respect," said a spokesperson for the SCG. "They should not be kept as pets, and certainly not in confinement at a petting zoo."

The petition has so far attracted over 1,000 signatures from people who support the SCG's stance on piglet petting zoos.

Study suggests piglets learn best through play

A recent study has shown that piglets learn best when they are playing. The research, carried out by the University of Lincoln, involved observing the behavior of 72 piglets which were housed in pairs.

The researchers found that the piglets which played together learned better and were more active than those which didn't play. They also found that the young pigs which played most learned fastest.

Speaking about the findings, study leader Dr Lisa Collins said "This research suggests that play may be an important part of learning for piglets and could have implications for their welfare." She added that the next step is to see if providing opportunities for play leads to improved welfare outcomes for pigs.

The discovery that pigs learn best through play is a welcome one, as it may help to improve their welfare in industrial farming conditions. It is hoped that further research will confirm this and lead to changes in how pigs are raised.

Dancing piglet becomes internet sensation

In a farm in the US state of Iowa, a dancing piglet has become an internet sensation. Footage of the little porker bopping around to music has been viewed millions of times online.

The piglet was first spotted by farmer Derek Klingenberg as he was moving his cattle. "I saw this little pig running around and thought it was so funny. I started filming it and then it started dancing," he told local media.

The pint-sized performer has since been christened Boogie by Mr Klingenberg's young daughter and the name has stuck. The video of Boogie busting some moves to Taylor Swift's Shake It Off has had over 9 million views on YouTube.

While some people have branded the Dancing Piglet a nuisance, most have found him simply adorable. One viewer remarked, "I don't care what anybody says, that is the cutest thing I have ever seen." Another said, "This little guy just made my day."

Boogie seems to be enjoying his moment in the spotlight, with Mr Klingenberg reporting that the piglet loves to dance and sometimes even copies the moves of his cows. It's fair to say that this little piggy has certainly got talent!