Pigs often suffer from a bad reputation as dirty, messy animals. However, these barnyard residents actually rank among the smartest creatures on the planet. In fact, scientists consider them more intelligent than dogs and even some toddlers. Furthermore, they are surprisingly clean animals that only roll in mud to stay cool. Prepare to visit the sty to learn the truth about these pink geniuses.
Pigs
Pigs do not have functional sweat glands on their bodies. Therefore, they cannot cool themselves down by sweating like humans do. Consequently, they roll in the mud to lower their body temperature.
Amazingly, researchers taught them to play simple video games. In the study, the animals used a joystick to move a cursor on a screen. Thus, they understood the complex connection between the controller and the game.
Pigs scream louder than the sound of a jet engine. specifically, their squeals can reach 115 decibels in volume. Therefore, farmers often wear ear protection when working in the barns.
Biologically, their snouts contain an incredibly high number of tactile receptors. In fact, the snout is as sensitive as the human hand. Consequently, they use their noses to root around and explore the world.
Medically, surgeons use heart valves from pigs for human transplants. Because their organs function similarly to ours, they save human lives. Thus, they play a crucial role in modern medical science.
Naturally, they are actually very clean animals. Unlike other livestock, they refuse to use the bathroom near where they sleep or eat. Therefore, the “dirty pig” stereotype is completely factually incorrect.
Historically, armies used “war pigs” to scare enemy elephants. The Romans discovered that the elephants panicked when they heard the squealing. Consequently, the giant beasts would trample their own soldiers in fear.
Impressively, they can run a seven-minute mile. Despite their heavy bodies, pigs can sprint at speeds of eleven miles per hour. Thus, you would struggle to outrun an angry one in a race.
Socially, they prefer to sleep nose-to-nose with their friends. They form deep bonds with other individuals in their group. Furthermore, they often dream while they sleep, just like humans do.
Cognitively, they possess excellent long-term memories. For example, pigs can remember the location of food caches for years. Additionally, they can distinguish between people who treat them well or poorly.
Famously, a colony of feral pigs swims in the Bahamas. Tourists flock to “Pig Beach” to swim alongside the animals in the clear water. Apparently, sailors left them there years ago, and they adapted to the island.
Dietarily, pigs are omnivores that will eat almost anything. While they love vegetables, they also consume meat and small insects. Therefore, they act as the ultimate recyclers of the natural world.
Culturally, the animal symbolizes wealth and luck in China. In the Chinese zodiac, people born in the Year of the Pig are hardworking. Thus, golden statues of them often appear in homes to bring prosperity.
Mother pigs “sing” to their piglets while nursing. She produces a specific rhythmic grunting noise to calm her babies. Consequently, the piglets learn to recognize her unique voice immediately.
Finally, there are over one billion pigs on Earth today. Most of them live in China, followed by the European Union and the United States. Therefore, they are one of the most populous large mammals in the world.
