This plucky pig made a successful escape from the slaughterhouse after leaping off a livestock truck - and being adopted by a highway worker.

The clever porker jumped from the moving vehicle packed with swine as it headed to an abattoir on the National Highway in Pingtung County, Taiwan, on July 27.

Passing motorists watched as workers struggled to catch the creature - which seemed to have been aware of its impending fate.

But the pig had the last laugh and dodged the dinner plate after its daring plan worked out with an unexpected ending.

The pig was eventually rounded up and strapped to a flat bed crane and tow truck by workman Ye Kunhua who ADOPTED the animal as a pet.

Married father-of-one Ye - who has now nicknamed the pig 'Mu' - said: ''We recover a lot of vehicles from the highway but this is the first time I have picked up a pig.

''I will raise the pig until they die, even if most people would not. They jumped off the truck because of their incredible will to live.''

Ye took a picture of the pig chomping grass in his back garden, where he is now living as ''free range live stock''. Another shot shows the pig sleeping happily in mud at the bottom of Ye's garden.

Ye added: ''The owner of the truck did not stop after the incident so I am able to claim him as my own.

''He has been eating and sleeping in my garden. He seems happy with his new life.''

PICTURES AVAILABLE -- This plucky pig made a successful escape from the slaughter house after leaping off a livestock truck - and being adopted by a highway worker.

The clever porker jumped from the moving vehicle packed with swine as it headed to an abattoir on the National Highway in Pingtung County, Taiwan, on July 27.

Passing motorists watched as workers struggled to catch the creature - which seemed to have been aware of its impending fate.

But the pig had the last laugh and dodged the dinner plate after its daring plan worked out with an unexpected ending.

The pig was eventually rounded up and strapped to a flat bed crane and tow truck by workman Ye Kunhua who ADOPTED the animal as a pet.

Married father-of-one Ye - who has now nicknamed the pig 'Mu' - said: ''We recover a lot of vehicles from the highway but this is the first time I have picked up a pig.

''I will raise the pig until they die, even if most people would not. They jumped off the truck because of their incredible will to live.''

Ye took a picture of the pig chomping grass in his back garden, where he is now living as ''free range live stock''. Another shot shows the pig sleeping happily in mud at the bottom of Ye's garden.

Ye added: ''The owner of the truck did not stop after the incident so I am able to claim him as my own.

''He has been eating and sleeping in my garden. He seems happy with his new life.''