Thank Dagg Invercargill mayor Tim Shadbolt helped save some Auckland Island pigs from certain death at the hands of the increasingly oxymoronic Department of Conservation. It turns out that these pigs are the only porkers in the world who aren't infected with porcine retrovirus. Which is quite helpful when trying to develop a treatment for diabetes.
In true Tim-like fashion, Shadbolt knew that the pigs were worth saving. It's just that he didn't have a good enough reason to continue justifying the contingency fund that kept the pigs from death row. Finally, a reason has been found. 350,000 reasons a pig in fact.
I've helped feed around 80 pigs on a mate's farm outside of DanneVegas, so a big thumbs up to Tim Shadbolt who fed over 180 pigs on a regular basis. That's dedication above and beyond the call of public duty.
