Lucky pig in Llucmajor: How a 100-kg sow brought the neighborhood together

Lucky pig in Llucmajor: How a 100-kg sow brought the neighborhood together

When country tracks, barking dogs and an open gate ended an escape peacefully

It was one of those cool late-November evenings: the streetlights on the access road to S'Aranjassa cast long shadows over the bare olive trees, and the air carried the typical scent of wet earth and distant diesel — Palma had reported 9 °C shortly before. Around 7:50 pm a driver on her way to Palma noticed a large animal moving toward the main road. It quickly became clear: this was not a deer but a sow of well over 100 kilograms wandering unattended along the field tracks.

The woman stopped, alerted the authorities and remained at a safe distance. A few minutes later, members of the local Civil Protection unit from Llucmajor arrived — fresh from a previous call at Cap Blanc. The two volunteers assessed the situation: a heavy animal close to a busy road can pose a risk to drivers and pedestrians. They cautiously approached via the Camí de ses Puntes de Galdent, observed the animal and requested support from the local police.

The sow itself initially appeared calm and fed slowly at the roadside. As is known, pigs can be very wary of people in calm moments but may react unexpectedly when stressed. The emergency crews therefore kept their distance until it was clear there was no immediate danger to road users.

An unexpected turn came from an unforeseen source: on adjacent land other pigs were standing behind a fence. The escaped animal dug with its snout and began to grunt loudly — apparently seeking contact with its conspecifics. The helpers opened the gate and waited a heartbeat. Without hesitation the sow walked straight into the enclosure, joined the others and within seconds the situation relaxed. The animal's owners were found shortly afterwards.

Such incidents are rare on the island but not unheard of: agricultural plots, remote farms and urban outskirts often sit side by side here. Especially in the evening hours, country roads can quickly become danger zones if larger animals enter the carriageway. All the more welcome was the outcome — no accident, no injured animal, and a brief display of neighborly help and professionalism.

What remains as a small, practical lesson? A look around, a phone call instead of honking and running off, and the calmness of the responders prevented worse. For owners it pays to check gates regularly, tag animals and, if in doubt, leave contact details with neighbors or the municipality. The Llucmajor emergency teams showed that quick, calm action helps — and sometimes a few grunting friends provide the best solution.

In the fields around Llucmajor you often hear tractors idling in the evenings, dogs barking from the fincas, and when a car drives along the country road attention is required. This small episode is a reminder of how connected town and country are here: one escaped pig was enough to make strangers alert, involve neighbors and bring official helpers to the scene. It's a slice of everyday life that, after a brief stir, also leaves a warm feeling — human, local and somehow comforting.

As an outlook: the incident is an opportunity to strengthen community initiatives — for example a contact list for agricultural animal owners in rural districts, information evenings about farm animal behaviour and small workshops on fence checks. Not because something terrible happened, but because the island becomes a bit safer and better connected when such small matters are addressed together. And who knows: next time an open gate may suffice to end the chase — without sirens and fuss.

Location: Llucmajor (Camí de ses Puntes de Galdent, near the road to S'Aranjassa).
Time: Thursday evening, shortly before 8:00 pm.
Responders: Llucmajor Civil Protection with support from the local police.