• Kevin Mabbott was shot dead and another man injured on a Coromandel property owned by Stuart Edmondson last week.
• Edmondson, 77, has pleaded not guilty to their murder and attempted murder.
• The up to 50 “pet” pigs he owned will be moved to a Wellington sanctuary to protect them from poachers.

An animal welfare group have taken on the 50 pet pigs and three dogs belonging to accused murderer Stuart Edmondson.

The future of the pigs had been in doubt after property owner Edmondson pleaded not guilty to murdering Kevin Mabbott and the attempted murder of another man on the 309 Rd last week.

Edmondson had become famous in the community for caring for the friendly pigs and piglets, with locals and tourists often visiting his property to snap photos of themselves petting the animals.

Volunteers loaded the pigs onto trailers on Sunday for transport to a nearby HUHA sanctuary.

However, he had also long reported having trouble with people stealing and killing some of them.

In a social media post, HUHA (Helping You Help Animals) thanked locals who had been supporting the man’s animals.

“They have continued to support their gentle friend, vigilantly caring for his pets and protecting them from poachers, no mean task!

“Stu’s 50 pet pigs and three dogs are safe and heading back to HUHA.”

The group said locals helped load the animals onto trailers this morning.

“Stu had requested that we take the animals away, so they would no longer be at risk. Their safety means everything to him.”

HUHA said once the animals had settled they would desex the male pigs and then “let them live their best lives”.

Stuart Edmondson's pigs being transported to sanctuary after he was charged after a killing on his property. Photo / Supplied

“It’s a huge commitment, but how could we not? And with your support building them a 10-acre forest sanctuary is possible.”

A Givealittle page set up on Monday made an “urgent appeal” for the pigs' safety and has since raised more than $48,000.

The group said it hoped one day Edmondson would be able to visit.

Edmondson, 77, appeared briefly in the High Court in Hamilton earlier this week to enter not-guilty pleas to multiple charges.

Both 41-year-old Mabbott and the other victim had been shot.

A witness told the Herald that Mabbott was “shot in the chest” and was pronounced dead at the scene.

He believed the other man had been hit in the shoulder.

The two victims were understood to have been hunting pigs at the time.