Have you ever come across an animal that left you scratching your head, unable to determine its species? I’ve mistaken giant hamsters for baby rabbits, sheepdogs for furry lions, and fallen for the striped donkey trick, thinking it was a zebra. Sometimes, I can be clueless when it comes to these lovely creatures.
Now, let’s talk about these adorable, fuzzy sweethearts that blur the lines between sheep, pigs, and dogs. Sheep are known for their woolly coats, while dogs are beloved companions for many. Pigs, however, often don’t rank high in terms of cuteness. Enter the sheep pigs of Hungary, also known as the Mangalica pigs. These creatures possess the cute features of both sheep and dogs, resembling an overfed, furry dog with a woolly coat.
The Mangalica pigs have no sheep or dog DNA but have the charming characteristics of both. Bred mostly as pets and high-end meat sources in Europe, these sheep pigs were created through a crossbreeding of hardy Hungarian pig varieties with European wild boars in 1833. Nearly extinct by the mid-20th century, these pigs were saved by animal geneticist Peter Toth after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.
Today, the Mangalica breeders are working hard to repopulate these unique creatures, with over 7,000 sows producing thousands of piglets each year in Hungary. These affectionate animals make great pets and can become as tame as dogs with proper care and attention.
A Hungarian breed of domestic pigs
The Mangalica pigs, also known as Managlista or Mangalitza pigs, were first created through crossbreeding in the 19th century. Originally bred for the tables of Austro-Hungarian emperors, these pigs nearly faced extinction but are now thriving with the efforts of breeders like Peter Toth.
The Mangalica make such adorable pets, and according to one breeder, “if you treat them nicely, they’ll become as tame as dogs–they’ll follow you, play with you.”
Mangalica varieties
These sheep pigs are not just limited to Hungary but can also be found in other countries across the world. While many of the Mangalica varieties are extinct, there are three main ones that have survived: “swallow-bellied”, “blonde”, and “red”.
These endearing creatures, with their unique blend of sheep and pig-like characteristics, continue to capture the hearts of many animal lovers around the world.
