Meet the toughest pig in the world!

Hello world! Meet the toughest pig that has ever lived!

Yes, he is still alive, after being buried under the ruins for 36 days in the 5.12 Sichuan earthquake that has killed at least 80,000 people. A miracle of life in one of the biggest recent natural disasters. 

This miracle pig was raised by a family living in a small village, Sichuan province. He was obviously well taken care of, weighing about 150 kg  (330 pounds), always healthy and strong. When the earthquake attacked the area, the pigsty he stayed collapsed along with other buildings. He was confined in a small space no more than 0.5 meter high (1'8''). Not able to stand up, he strived by eating coals that somehow fell close, and probably got water from the rain. The poor pig usually ate about 60-pound food a day before the earthquake. But apparently he managed to live on the coal and water for 36 days!

When he was finally dug up, it was a great surprise to all that he was still ALIVE! But of course, he lost a lot of weight - I would say that was another world record - weighing only 50 kg (110 pounds)! He looked like a little goat... but happy to see his masters!

The story, nothing short of a miracle, soon spread out and astonished many people. In fact, a museum decided to purchase this pig from the family at the price of 3008 rmb (~$400). The curator even gave the pig a name "Zhu Jianqiang" (meaning Tough Pig). Indeed, he is probably the toughest pig in the world! The museum also donated an extra of 10,000 rmb to help the family rebuild their house and resume field work.

It was a little sad, though, that Tough Pig apparently was very much attached to his home and masters. The museum staff had the most difficult time getting him out of the village for he kept running back to his sty. The couple, his masters, both wet their eyes. They explained that although they didn't want to let him go, he probably will have a better life at the museum...