Sheep Or Pig? Curly Coat Causes Confusion
The woolly animals may look like sheep but believe it or not they are actually a rare breed of pig.
Buddy, a male, and two females, Porsche and Margot, were brought to Tropical Wings Zoo in Essex, Britain as part of an education and breeding programme*.
The pigs in blankets - officially known as Mangalitzas - originate from Austria and Hungary.
They have a small genetic link to the native Lincolnshire curly coat, which died out in Britain in 1972, an expert at the zoo said.
"Buddy has blond hair which is almost white, so people really do believe he is a sheep," said Denise Cox, education co-ordinator at the zoo.
"Everybody who walks past them stops because they want to know if they are pigs or sheep.
"We've got them here as part of a breeding programme to make sure this fascinating breed does not become extinct."
And the project could be working already, with hopes that the zoo could be experiencing the pitter-patter* of tiny trotters* before too long.
Ms Cox said Porsche is showing the early signs of being pregnant* although it is still too early to confirm whether she is expecting*.
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programme ： = program （米） このニュースはイギリス発なので、英国式つづりである。
pitter-patter ： トコトコ走り回る音
tiny trotters ： 小さな仔豚
pregnant ： 妊娠
expecting ： おめでた = pregnant
