Extremely Rare Two-Headed Calf Has People Totally Captivated
Even though the Internet can hide some dark and distressing content, it's also home to so many hopeful and inspirational stories exactly like this one. Whether it's a rescue pet finding its happily ever after or a hiker's lucky encounter with a mountain goat, you can guarantee that you'll find it online. And that's exactly how millions of people have stumbled across one special newborn calf.
The female calf has two heads, four eyes, two mouths, two noses, and four ears. The first video of her was posted, presumably by her owners, on January 14, and she's already racked up over 55 million views on her four videos since then. Though her future is uncertain, this special calf is already so beloved. Just wait until you see her!
What a beautiful newborn calf! Her two heads, which face opposite directions, are as cute as can be, and her gentle spirit is impossible to resist. It's easy to see why her millions of viewers are so enamored, but watching the calf's mother nestle and nudge her in @twoheaded.calf3's other videos nearly had me sobbing.
How priceless! This loving mother cow who still needs a name tends to her calf just like any other, and that makes all the difference in the world for this little one. They'll spend their young life receiving love from all around the world, Despite her owner's encouraging words in the video's description, this baby calf is unlikely to live a long life due to her condition.
Related: Rare Two-Headed Snake Hatched in the U.K. Is a Sight to Behold
As bittersweet as this occasion is, it's impossible to deny the connection between this calf's birth and the circumstances of Laura Gilpin's short poem "Two-Headed Calf." As its title implies, the text both celebrates and mourns the life of the two-headed calf, who can see 'twice as many stars as usual' when looking into the sky. The full text reads:
TomTomorrow when the farm boys find this
freak of nature, they will wrap his body
in newspaper and carry him to the museum.
But tonight he is alive and in the north
field with his mother. It is a perfect
summer evening: the moon rising over
the orchard, the wind in the grass. And
as he stares into the sky, there are
twice as many stars as usual.
Pass the tissues, please! This heartfelt poem tells the story of every two-headed cow who's ever lived, and I'm so glad to see that it's shaped the way people feel about this unique animal. Unlike the calf in the poem, she's so loved!
The Oldest Two-Headed Calf Lived for 534 Days
I love that this calf's owner was able to recruit her brother to help care. for the animal, but the sad reality is that cows with this condition don't live long. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest age for a two-headed calf was just 534 days or 17 months. However, this only includes documented cases when a calf's exact birthdate is confirmed, and there have been stories of two-headed adult cows throughout history, too.
There may not be much this devoted owner can do besides giving the calf the best care possible, but even a little TLC will make this baby's short life as special and peaceful as possible. She's a little beacon of acceptance and inspiration, and I hope to see more videos of her in the future.
