VIDEO: goat’s bizarre ‘pig-human’ baby mystifies Philippines
Locals fear the mutant creature was cursed and will bring bad luck to owners
A goat has triggered fears of a curse on its owners after giving birth to a creature that look like a pig mixed with a human.
The mutant kid was one of two delivered by cesarean section after the goat went into labour at a farm in the Philippines, reports the Daily Mirror. But while one of the newborns appeared like any other baby goat, the other was furless, and had trotters and a naval.
“We were shocked. We can’t explain how it looks like that. All our neighbours flocked into our house to get a good look,” said Josephine Repique, 40, whose family owns the farm, on Sultan Kudarat, on the southern island of Mindanao.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Neither the two kids nor the mother goat survived the birth earlier this month, leaving the family upset and confused. “Nobody knows what it is, but it’s not a goat. We’re all wondering why it happened and if it’s bad luck,” Repique said.
But experts believe the goat suffered from a genetic mutation in the womb, says the Daily Mail.
Dr Agapita Salces, of the Institute of Animal Science of the University of the Philippines, said the foetus appeared to have suffered a genetic mutation in the womb.
“It is also possible the mother contracted a disease called Rift Valley fever from mosquito bites and this caused the impaired development of the infant,” Salces explained.
According to the World Health Organization, Rift Valley fever is a “viral zoonosis that primarily affects animals”. It is difficult to distinguish from other similar fever diseases, such as malaria, typhoid fever and yellow fever.
Sheep and goats appear to be more susceptible than other animals.
The creature in the Philippines is not this year’s first mutant animal. In May, a video posted online showing a strange-looking pig with human-like hands and a straight tail, according to The Sun.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Nigeria's worsening rate of maternal mortality
Under the radar Economic crisis is making hospitals unaffordable, with women increasingly not receiving the care they need
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Dengue hits the Americas hard and early
Speed Read Puerto Rico has declared an epidemic as dengue cases surge
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How happy is Finland really?
Today's Big Question Nordic nation tops global happiness survey for seventh year in a row with 'focus on contentment over joy'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Our microbiome is social like us
The Explainer Microbes can be friendly too
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
How Tehran became the world's nose job capital
Under the radar Iranian doctors raise alarm over low costs, weak regulation and online influence of 'Western beauty standards'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Alaskapox: first human death from recently discovered virus
In Depth Health officials downplay risk of human-to-human transmission of disease found in small mammals
By The Week UK Published
-
Africa's renewed battle against female genital mutilation
Under the radar Campaigners call for ban in Sierra Leone after deaths of three girls as coast-to-coast convoy prepares to depart
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What to say to someone who has cancer
The Explainer Saying something is better than nothing but there are some things to avoid too
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published