Fears ‘super pigs’ could invade US states – and it’s not easy to eradicate them
Experts in the US fear a rising number of “super pigs” that are proving tough to eradicate could invade northern states.
As a cross-breed combining the Eurasian boar’s survival skills with the size and fertility of domestic swine in Canada, the “super pig” is described as an “ecological train wreck”.
Professor Ryan Brook, one of Canada’s authorities on the issue, added they are the “most invasive animal on the planet”, with the swine capable of spreading disease and devastating crops and wildlife.
“Nobody should be surprised when pigs start walking across that border, if they haven’t already,” Professor Brook said.
“The question is: what will be done about it?”
Northern states like Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana are taking steps to stop the invasion, but it isn’t easy to control the spiralling population.
The pigs are smart and furry, giving them the edge to survive Canadian winters, and they reproduce extremely quickly.
One sow can have six piglets in a litter and raise two litters in a year – which means that even if authorities managed to eliminate 65% of the population each year, they’d still grow.
And hunting could make the problem worse, according to Professor Brook, with the success rate for hunters only about 2- 3%.
The pigs are described as the most invasive animal on the planet. Pic: St. Louis Post-Dispatch via AP
Several states have also banned hunting because it makes the pigs more wary and nocturnal, which makes them tougher to track down.
Instead, methods under consideration are ground traps – like the so-called “BoarBuster” – or net guns fired from helicopters.
Some states have also adopted crowdsourced “Squeal on Pigs” tracking programs, while scientists have studied poisons such as sodium nitrite, but they risk harming other species.
“The only path forward is you have to be really aggressive and you have to use all the tools in the toolbox,” Professor Brook said.
Read more:
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Pigs already cost $2.5bn (£1.98bn) in damage to crops in the US each year, mostly in southern states.
They have also, on occasion, been known to attack humans, with one woman killed in Texas in 2019.
The animals are not native to North America, but have roamed there for centuries.
The problems in Canada date back to the 1980s, when farmers were encouraged to raise wild boar, before the market collapsed in 2001 and some frustrated farmers simply set the animals free.
Two staff members working for the Israeli embassy in Washington DC have been shot dead.
The shooting happened on Wednesday evening near the Capital Jewish Museum – steps away from an FBI office.
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, called the attack “a depraved act of antisemitic terrorism”.
He wrote on X: “We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act.”
Pic: Reuters
Detectives are yet to establish a potential motive for the shooting at this stage.
Pamela Smith, Washington DC’s police chief, confirmed at a news conference that a single suspect is now in custody, and they had shouted “free, free Palestine” while being detained.
He was seen pacing back and forth outside of the museum before the attack – approaching a group of four people, producing a handgun, and firing the weapon.
The two people who died were a young couple about to be engaged, and the man had purchased a ring with the intention of proposing next week.
Eyewitnesses said people came to help a man who had entered the building and looked in distress, without realising he was the suspect.
Yoni Kalin said: “This event was about humanitarian aid. How can we actually help both the people in Gaza and the people in Israel? How can we bring together Muslims and Jews and Christians to work together to actually help innocent people? And then here he is just murdering two people in cold blood.”
Paying tribute to the victims, Israel’s ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter said: “They were a beautiful couple who came to enjoy an evening in Washington’s cultural centre.”
Mr Leiter confirmed he had spoken to Donald Trump since the attack has taken place.
And on Truth Social, the president wrote: “These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA.
“Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
Police at the scene of the shooting near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC. Pic: Reuters
Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem described the attack as “senseless” – and vowed to “bring this depraved perpetrator to justice”.
Initial enquiries suggest the suspect is called Elias Rodriguez, a 30-year-old from Chicago who was not previously known to police. He was arrested inside the museum by event security.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said: “There is no active threat in our community. What I do know is that this horrific incident is going to frighten a lot of people in our city and in our country.
“I want to be clear that we will not tolerate this violence or hate in our city.”
Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, said he was “devastated” by the scenes in Washington.
“We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the US,” he added. “America and Israel will stand united in defence of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us.”
Donald Trump has ambushed South Africa’s president during a White House meeting by playing a video purportedly showing evidence of a “genocide” of white people in the African country.
The US president, who was hosting leader Cyril Ramaphosa in the Oval Office, said the footage showed the graves of thousands of white farmers.
Mr Ramaphosa sat quietly and mostly expressionless while a montage of videos was played, and he later said: “I’d like to know where that is because this [the videos] I’ve never seen”.
The lights had been dimmed in the room as videos were shown, including of South African officials allegedly calling for violence against white farmers.
South Africa has rejected the allegation that white people are disproportionately targeted by crime.
The videos include one of a communist politician playing a controversial anti-apartheid song that includes lyrics about killing a farmer.
Mr Trump accused South Africa of failing to address the killing of white farmers. “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety,” the US president said. “Their land is being confiscated and in many cases they’re being killed.”
Alluding to people in the videos, Mr Trump said: “These are people that are officials and they’re saying… kill the white farmer and take their land.”
Cyril Ramaphosa and Donald Trump in the Oval Office today
The US president then displayed printed copies of articles that he said showed white South Africans who had been killed, saying “death, death” as he flipped through them.
He added of one article: “Here’s burial sites all over the place, these are all white farmers that are being buried.”
South African leader rejects allegations
Mr Ramaphosa pushed back against Mr Trump’s accusations, by responding: “What you saw, the speeches that were being made, that is not government policy. We have a multi-party democracy in South Africa that allows people to express themselves, political parties to adhere to various policies.
“And in many cases or in some cases, those policies do not go along with government policy.
“Our government policy is completely, completely against what he [a person in the video montage] was saying. Even in the parliament. And they are a small minority party which is allowed to exist in terms of our constitution.”
Mr Ramaphosa also said of the behaviour alleged by Mr Trump: “We are completely opposed to that.”
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Mr Ramaphosa said there was crime in South Africa, and the majority of victims were black. Mr Trump cut him off and said: “The farmers are not black.” The South African president responded: “These are concerns we are willing to talk to you about.”
Mr Trump has cancelled aid, expelled South Africa’s ambassador and offered refuge to white minority Afrikaners based on racial discrimination claims which Pretoria says are unfounded.
Experts in South Africa say there is no evidence of white people being targeted, although farmers of all races are victims of violent home invasions in a country that suffers from a very high crime rate.
Universal has opened a new theme park to rival Disney World in Florida.
NBCUniversal owner Comcast, which also owns Sky News, is rewriting the Orlando travel itinerary with its $7bn Epic Universe.
The 750-acre park features five worlds themed around movie and game franchises NBCUniversal owns or licenses.
These include Super Nintendo World, complete with a Mario Kart ride, and the immersive Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic.
Pic: Reuters
Fans pose for pictures in Super Nintendo World. Pic: Reuters
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk, Celestial Park and Dark Universe complete the park.
The project is the first major theme park to open in the US in more than 20 years and marks Comcast’s largest investment in Universal attractions since it gained control of the business in 2011.
People riding the Dragon’s Racers Rally rollercoaster. Pic: Reuters
Comcast president Mike Cavanaugh said: “This is the one part of the media ecosystem that is not vulnerable to screen-shifting. It’s still beloved as a thing to do with friends and family.
“It would be silly not to be stepping on the gas.”
The sprawling park covers 750 acres. Pic: Reuters
Epic Universe could attract 9.5 million visitors and bring in more than $1.3bn in revenue in 2026, analyst Craig Moffett has predicted.
Another new Universal theme park is also in the pipeline, with the company set to open its first European resort in 2031.
More from Sky News:
New Princess Kate waxwork unveiled
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The park will be in Bedfordshire and is expected to become the UK’s most popular visitor attraction.
The UK government has said it will bring in an estimated £50bn to the British economy and create around 28,000 jobs.
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