Giant mutant pigs were Highland Cattle

Two prime Scottish highland bulls have been shot dead by a short-sighted Danish hunter who thought he had spotted a pair of giant wild pigs. The farmer who owned the cattle and had allowed the hunters onto his remote property at Morlunda near Hultsfred in southern Sweden said he was stunned when he saw hunter Nicklas Mikkelsen, 58, take aim and fire three shots from a high powered hunting rifle.

The shots downed the two 800 kilogram Highland bulls instantly. Farmer Tobias Soederberg said: "The man insisted he had shot dead two giant pigs even when I told him they were cattle, it was only when he got nearer that he realized his mistake." The Danish hunter took an alcohol test that showed he was sober at the time but he is still likely to face charges once the police investigation has been completed for breaching hunting laws - and a claim for compensation.

The man had apparently been discussing with fellow hunters about the legend of pigzilla when he suddenly spotted what he thought were the giant wild boar. Police spokesperson Reinhold Liljedahl confirmed: "A Danish citizen has shot two bulls he thought were wild boars. The mystery is that he should have been able to see the difference. Wild boar rarely weigh more than 200 kilograms, so the bulls were quite a bit larger."

He added that it had been getting darker, which may have been a factor in the mishap. The remote area where the hunt takes place had only recently introduced the Scottish cattle perfect for local conditions because of the rugged nature of their native Scottish Highlands, with high rainfall and strong winds.