Two-Headed Pig Born In China

On April 10 in a village in Jiujiang, a two-headed piglet came into the world

with two big smiles. A local vet informed AFP that a rare deformity is the cause of its rare genetics and unfortunately, the pig won't live long. It's tragic that such a mystical creature has so little time to grace our planet, but in a shred of human decency, its owner agreed not to slaughter it right away, giving us the chance to ooh and aah over the marvelous miracle.


The pig has a rare case of polycephaly, the condition of having more than one head. It's been known to affect all varieties of life, from snakes to cats to humans. Just last month, a two-headed lamb was born in Ghana.
Todd Ray, star of the AMC TV series "Freakshow," has the largest collection of two-headed animals in the world, a record that's made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records. His collection includes a two-headed goat, a two-headed chicken and two living two-headed six-legged bearded dragons. Don't jump out of your seat quite yet however, although its two heads and six legs are something to marvel at, a bearded dragon is merely a small lizard. Two-headed animals may exist, but dragons? Come on.

Ray is an expert on dealing with two-headed animals and has offered some advice to their owners. "People try to feed both mouths, but one may not have a functioning throat or it may have obstruction," he told the Huffington Post. "If one head seems more capable, feed that one because there's only one stomach."

He's also aware of the of their short lifespans and the difficult living conditions they're faced with. The weight of two heads often makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the baby to stand up. The pig will eventually find the strength to lift itself off the ground, but it's imperative not to let it lie down too soon after feeding,
"If it lies down too soon, it could block air getting into the throat," Ray said.

In its dwindling moments on our planet, let's pray the two-headed pig can enjoy its life. Hopefully it realizes how marvelous and awe-inspiring it is.