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.
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.
-
Political cartoons for January 17Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include hard hats, compliance, and more
-
Ultimate pasta alla NormaThe Week Recommends White miso and eggplant enrich the flavour of this classic pasta dish
-
Death in Minneapolis: a shooting dividing the USIn the Spotlight Federal response to Renee Good’s shooting suggest priority is ‘vilifying Trump’s perceived enemies rather than informing the public’
-
Why Greenland’s natural resources are nearly impossible to mineThe Explainer The country’s natural landscape makes the task extremely difficult
-
Iran cuts internet as protests escalateSpeed Reada Government buildings across the country have been set on fire
-
US nabs ‘shadow’ tanker claimed by RussiaSpeed Read The ship was one of two vessels seized by the US military
-
‘Lumpy skin’ protests intensify across France as farmers fight cullIN THE SPOTLIGHT A bovine outbreak coupled with ongoing governmental frustrations is causing major problems for French civil society
-
How Bulgaria’s government fell amid mass protestsThe Explainer The country’s prime minister resigned as part of the fallout
-
Femicide: Italy’s newest crimeThe Explainer Landmark law to criminalise murder of a woman as an ‘act of hatred’ or ‘subjugation’ but critics say Italy is still deeply patriarchal
-
Brazil’s Bolsonaro behind bars after appeals run outSpeed Read He will serve 27 years in prison
-
Americans traveling abroad face renewed criticism in the Trump eraThe Explainer Some of Trump’s behavior has Americans being questioned
