We can always rely on animals for the funny, the silly, and the downright odd. This appearance of this newborn calf will surprise you. In Villa Ana, Argentina, the calf was born. An everyday occurrence perhaps, but this calf was born with facial deformities meaning that it had a human-like face. Unfortunately, its small mouth and nose meant that it died not long after birth.
Human-like face – what similar encounters have we seen?
It’s not the first time we’ve seen calves like this – across the world, farmers have been surprised to see the newest members of their herd. In the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, a calf was born with two heads, two mouths, and four eyes earlier this year. Back in Argentina, another two-headed calf was born just last month, and even survived for twelve hours after its birth.
Most of the time, calves and other animals with deformities to this extent won’t live as long as this, often dying even minutes after birth. The calf from Villa Ana only survived for a couple of hours, due to its abnormal skull – the reason for its human-like face. The health difficulties resulting from the deformities make it difficult for these animals to survive.
How does it happen?
We might be used to such oddities cropping up from time to time, but what’s the explanation? It might be some sort of genetic mutation. From time to time it happens – perhaps through exposure to some sort of external factor; a chemical or something due to the environment. Alternatively, there may be a misprint when a cell divides – though there are many ways in which your genes can be changed.
Genes are continually evolving and changing. It’s usually for the better, as we can become healthier and live more fulfilling lives. But occasionally, less positive situations can occur, as we are left with animals like these unfortunate calves.
It’s sad to think that these animals will not get the chance to live life to the full, but it’s certainly interesting to hear about how everything happens, and the genetic mutations that make the creatures look like they do.
For more animal stories, check out this one.
