Or is it? From the internet:
A young pig in Esquina, Corrientes, Argentina, has fleece like a sheep according to a certain news outlet.* Although the story appears in a few different places on the net, they all seem to point back to the linked story.
In the interest of preserving the story against internet flux, I quote the main part of it here:
"Meet the world’s first sheep-hog — a pig with its own fleece. Scientists are baffled by the strange swine — which they say is a pig “at heart” but with a woolly hide.
The one-year-old is being raised on a ranch near the town of Esquina, 400 miles north of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
It is a pig but has a thick fleece which needs shearing in summer with the other sheep because it suffers in the heat. Other pigs do not trust it."
I've heard of a wolf in sheep's clothing, but this is a porcine of a different color entirely. Perhaps it envies the camelids? Or perhaps its mother spent way too much time watching a certain video.
*And, yes, I know to consider the source. I especially enjoy the bassackward headline on the story. :D
Wow that's pretty amazing. I like your comment graphic BTW.
Posted by: Windyridge | September 30, 2007 at 12:00 PM
And the fleece would cost more than vicuna.....
Posted by: Laurie | September 21, 2007 at 07:48 PM
So, if you sheared this pig, and plied the fleece with silk , would you be able to knit the proverbial purse?
(Forget the ear!) VBG!
Posted by: Barbara-Kay | September 21, 2007 at 08:53 AM
I'm still blaming it on the Lincolnshire Chinese.
Posted by: Sharon | September 20, 2007 at 12:47 AM
This just gives me the "woolies".
Posted by: Teresa C | September 19, 2007 at 01:13 PM
Sorry folks.. this is a real animal, not fictious. It is the Mangalitza hog, once bred as a lard animal. It does need to be shorn every year, which made it less practical for large scale livestock production.
Another "wool" bearing hog was the Lincolnshire Curly Coat, but I don't have any pics.
Now you know.
E
Posted by: Elaine, Wet, whatever.. | September 19, 2007 at 05:50 AM
I'm blaming it on the Chinese.
Posted by: Sharon | September 19, 2007 at 02:01 AM
Some pig!
Posted by: Charlotte ;-) | September 18, 2007 at 03:59 PM
Almost certainly a fake, but very intriguing nonetheless!
Posted by: Beth S. | September 17, 2007 at 02:58 PM
OK. Somebody out there has way too much computer time on their hands. I don't know which species should be more insulted: sheep or pigs *lol*
Posted by: Leigh | September 17, 2007 at 10:18 AM
...perhaps it is a descendant of Dolly (of cloned sheep fame)...now there's a gene pool for ya...
Posted by: cyndy | September 17, 2007 at 07:09 AM
I also love your blog!
the wool pig is really a pretty special find!
Posted by: benedetta | September 16, 2007 at 08:42 PM
I love your blog!
Posted by: Andrea (noricum) | September 16, 2007 at 06:44 PM
"Other pigs do not trust it."
Kind of sums it all up, doesn't it?
Posted by: Cynthia | September 16, 2007 at 04:57 PM
Is this the Yarn Harlot's "wool-pig"?
Posted by: sharon | September 16, 2007 at 01:43 PM