Recently, social media in Russia shared images of a bizarre creature that resembled both a pig and a cow, featuring two heads dangling from its body.
It is known that the unusual creature is actually a mutant calf that was just born in the village of Matkechik, Khakassia, Russia.
Two-headed calf with a pig-like body born in Khakassia, Russia. (Photo: Newflash)
The photo shows the creature lying motionless, with a pink body resembling that of a piglet.
However, its head is truly peculiar, divided into two completely separate parts, each with its own eyes, nose, and mouth. Each head also has two ears, sharing only a common neck.
Sadly, the animal did not survive after birth. It also caused the mother cow to die a few days later due to exhaustion.
The Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Khakassia stated that the main cause of genetic defects (also known as gene mutations) in animals at birth is due to changes in their genetic makeup.
These mutations can be influenced by external environmental factors, but sometimes they also originate from within the animals’ bodies.
Additionally, mutations can occur during the breeding process, under certain experimental artificial conditions.
Previously, in August 2020, a similar mutation was recorded in Guizhou Province, China, where a two-headed calf was successfully born and was able to drink milk from its mother’s udder using both mouths.
