[3] Various introductions of pigs were made to uninhabited Auckland as a source of food for stranded sailors or visiting whalers; the first took place in 1807, with further liberations in 1840, 1842 and the 1890s.

[citation needed] As of the late 20th century, the substantial pig population occupied the whole of the island, with equal numbers of males and females.

[5] A decision was made by New Zealand's Department of Conservation that species introduced to the Auckland Islands should be eradicated in the course of a program to restore the natural ecosystems.

Consequently, the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand (RBCSNZ) decided to attempt to preserve the population in captivity.

In 1999, a RBCSNZ expedition caught and removed 17 pigs, including several pregnant sows, from Auckland Island, transferring them to Invercargill, New Zealand.