Locals Urge Visitors to Stop Harassing New Forest Pigs for Selfies

As of November 14th, 2025, residents of the New Forest in southern England are urging visitors to the national park to stop harassing the area's domestic pigs. Every autumn, around 600 pigs are released into the forest to forage for acorns, a practice known as "pannage" that dates back centuries.

The pigs play a crucial role in the New Forest's ecosystem, hoovering up acorns that can be toxic to other livestock like ponies and cattle if consumed in large quantities. However, local animal safety campaigner Gilly Jones reports witnessing disturbing incidents of visitors getting dangerously close to the pigs, including someone putting a camera just inches from a sow's snout and children chasing piglets.

The New Forest Commoners Defence Association is now appealing for the public to observe the pigs from a respectful distance and avoid any interaction. Chair Andrew Parry-Norton stresses that the animals must be allowed to carry out their important work without disturbance. He advises visitors to use zoom lenses rather than approaching the pigs, and to keep dogs on leashes as sows may act defensively to protect their young.