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Three-eyed, two-snouted calf attracts curious onlookers in East Java hamlet
The farmer expressed hope Pahing would grow up to be healthy, although he understood that calves with such abnormalities typically only survived for a few hours after being born.
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Farmer Samukan holds his calf, Pahing, who was born with three eyes and two snouts on Feb. 7 in Blitar, East Java. (JP /Asip A. Hasani)
T
he birth of a three-eyed, two-snouted calf in Pacuh hamlet in Blitar regency, East Java, has attracted a crowd of curious onlookers eager to catch a glimpse of the rare creature.
The female calf, which was born with a normal delivery, belongs to a farmer named Samukan, 52. Samukan and his livestock live on the slopes of Mount Kelud, around 17 kilometers to the north of Blitar city.
Samukan named the calf Pahing, as she was born on a Pahing, a day in the Javanese calendar.
According to Samukan, Pahing was born without human help. When Samukan visited the pen for his morning chores, he found the calf already waking around. The calf is healthy, weighs 25 kg and is 80 cm long.
Pahing was conceived through artificial insemination. She was born from a two-year old cow impregnated with sperm provided by a subsidy of the Blitar regency administration.
Because of her unique facial features, Pahing cannot not drink milk directly from her mother. Samukan has to milk the mother, put the milk in a bottle, and give it to Pahing to drink.
“Today she drank four times. Yesterday only two times,” Samukan told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
He expressed hope Pahing would grow up to be healthy, although he understood that calves with such abnormalities typically only survived for a few hours after being born.
Samukan said he was worried that Pahing might not be able to eat grass with her unique mouths.
News of the three-eyed calf with two mouths has spread across the village, with people flocking to Samukan’s house to see the calf. (gis)
