THE CALF WITH TWO FACES




An amazing image. I'm always fascinated by the mirror-like quality of double/split faced animals, like the calf above.

The calf was created via artificial insemination, and is perfectly healthy, according to the farmer who owns it, Kirk Heldreth. He had hoped the calf born from the process would be of a higher genetic quality than his other stock. The farmer is not complaining, however.

Locals have been flocking to Heldreth's Virginia, USA, farm to see this miraculous creature. Sounds like he intends to keep it alive.

From ABCNews.com :

The animal is normal from its tail until its unusually large head. The calf breathes out of two noses and has two tongues, which move independently, according to Heldreth. There appears to be a single socket containing two eyes where the heads split.

"It's the craziest thing I've ever seen," the dairyman said.

According to MedicineNet.com, the condition is called diprosopus. It happens when twins start to form and don't completely separate. In most cases, the twins are completely fused with one set of limbs, but part or all the face is duplicated.