Papua New Guinea: Mount Hagen – Pigs as Measure of Wealth

Money is almost meaningless in Highlands – wealth and respect is measured in pigs. Pigs are not for meat (except ceremonial feasts), just an investment. Pigs are used as bride money at weddings, you can pay with pigs for a new house construction or a piece of land. The bigger and fatter the pigs are the more they are worth; huge adults sells for over $2000 USD equivalent, way in excess of their meat value. Pigs are well cared for, they are walked on leashes, and baby piglets are actually breastfed by lactating human women (Yes! No typo! Real fact of life!). So in Papua New Guinea you can be pig investment advisor and “guarantee” a 7x return – just feed 7 piglets to adulthood….
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