Pig stole and drank 18 beers from campsite and then tried to start a fight with a cow

It's 10 years since one of the greatest animal-related stories to come out of Australia.

While loads of people are worried about spiders, snakes, octopuses, kangaroos and a bunch of other species when they fly into the country, there's another animal they should be worried about...especially if they've had a drink or two.

A feral pig went on a crazed rampage at a campsite in Western Australia after having one too many beverages.

It managed to sneak into the DeGrey River rest area, which is located just east of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region.

According to the ABC, the pig nicked three six-packs of beer and ran off.

Main Roads Pilbara

Witnesses say they saw the animal guzzling the amber liquid and finished off them all.

You'd think that would be the pinnacle of the story.

However, the pig returned and was so drunk on rage and beer that it tried to start a fight with a local cow.

"In the middle of the night these people camping opposite us heard a noise, so they got their torch out and shone it on the pig and there he was, scrunching away at their cans," a visitor explained to the ABC.

"Then he went and raided all the rubbish bags.

"There were some other people camped right on the river and they saw him being chased around their vehicle by a cow."

The story became notorious in Australia.

I mean, how often do you hear of a beer-drinking, cow-fighting pig that lived to tell the tale?

It was given the nickname 'Swino' and unfortunately it managed to get hit by a car a few weeks later following the incident and died.

The legend was so iconic that Main Roads WA was even considering erecting a memorial for the pig so that generations of people would forever remember the story.

Fionna Findley from Main Roads said at the time: "If we could erect something in his honour and put a few facts down as a reminder to people not to drink and drive.

"It's a combined effort from road safety, but also a bit of a memorial for the little pig as well.

"It's all about our travel wellbeing objective and we're trying to make the journey for everyone a little bit more enjoyable.

"So we're thinking a pig with empty beer cans at his feet or maybe a cartoon character erected with a sign attached."

She admitted that it might be hard to fund the project and it's unclear if the plaque ever came to fruition.

Topics: Australia, Animals

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Senior Journalist at LADbible. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign. He is in charge of the LADbible Australia editorial content and social presence.

@stewartperrie