Guwahati, Jan 18: A cow in southern Tripura gave birth to a rare calf with two heads. The two-headed calf has four eyes and two ears and mouths.
Reportedly, curious spectators lined up to have a glimpse of the newborn creature lying in a shed with its mother.
It may be mentioned here that the calf suffers from a rare condition called polycephaly, according to reports it has been found that creatures with such abnormalities barely exist for more than a few months.
The term polycephaly is derived from the Greek word poly which means 'many' and kephale, meaning 'head'.
Animals with two heads are also referred to as bicephalic or dicephalic. However, if they have three heads they are referred to as tricephalic. The condition is the result of genetic abnormalities or damage sustained in the nervous system during the development and splitting of embryos.
Earlier, in 2021, a goat with two heads was born in Pakabetbari village of Barpeta district of Assam. The goat has four eyes and two noses and two tongues. While villagers were stunned, the owner decided to keep the goat as a pet animal.
In yet another incident, a piglet with two heads, two noses and as many as three eyes was born in a farmer's house in Assam's West Karbi Anglong district. The deformed animal soon became the centre of attraction for the entire rural community.
Though such incidents are rare in India, animals with such conditions are sometimes regarded as an avatar of the deities.
Last year a similar incident took place when a calf with two heads and three eyes was born in Odisha. The villagers started worshipping the animal as an avatar of Maa Durga, because it was born during Navratri.
