Pakistan welcomed a social media star last month in the form of a baby goat. The kid was named Simba and could be awarded a world record as he was born with unusually long ears measuring 19 inches (54 centimeters), ABC News reported.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Simba has somewhat become a local celebrity with his ears that he drags on the floor as he walks. His owner, Muhammad Hassan Narejo, said that they are hoping that Simba will become a title holder in the Guinness Book of World Records to see if his goat can become the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).
Long-Eared Goat Has Become An Instant Celebrity
"Within 10 to 12 days of his birth he was already appearing in all the national and international media - and won a beauty contest," the news outlet quoted a proud Mr. Narejo. He added that in just a month, Simba had become so famous in their country that a celebrity could take 25 to 30 years to achieve his goat's level of fame.
There is currently no goat holding a Guinness World Record for the longest ears, although there is a dog with the same honor. Her name is Lou, a black and tan coonhound from the United States. She has "extravagantly long ears" measuring 13.38 inches (34 centimeters).
Simba's ears are longer by nearly 6 inches. According to Phys.org, his ears are so long that Narejo has to fold them over the goat's back to avoid Simba from standing on them. His owner also designed a harness so Simba could carry his long ears around his neck.
Given his goat's fame, Narejo has become anxious about the attention of everyone, including rival breeders, and decided to resort to prayer and tradition to fend off any ill will. He said they had recited Koranic verses and blown on Simba to cast away the evil eye.
Also, they have fastened a black thread around the goat fortified with Koranic verses, following the long tradition they inherited from their ancestors. Narejo promised to raise Simba as a stud to promote goat breathing in Pakistan.
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Why Does Simba Has Long Ears?
Goat farming is a common practice in Pakistan partly because of the country's terrain that is suitable for these animals. Simba was born at Nagra Farm located in the largest city of Pakistan. His extraordinary long ears could earn him a place in the Guinness World Record, but what could have caused his ears to grow that long?
According to MailOnline, Simba's long ears probably result from a gene mutation or a genetic disorder. Fortunately, the goat seems to be getting along just fine, thanks to his owners, who are attentive to his needs to avoid stepping on his long ears.
Goats generally have long ears, but Simba's breed, called Nubian goats, is known to have the longest ears of all goat species. They are commonly found in Africa, India, and the Middle East. Nubian goats have different pendulous ears and a Roman nose that earned them the description of an aristocratic animal.
Their long ears serve a very important purpose - to keep them cool in hot temperatures. With the varying terrain in Pakistan, temperatures could rise to 47 degrees Celsius. But luckily for Simba, temperatures could be lower than that. Watch this video below as Narejo shows the media the long ears of Simba.
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