Pig Facts 6

•  1. Humans Domesticated Pigs at 2 Different Times, in 2 Different Places
• We recognized pigs' usefulness early on. Two different cultures thousands of miles apart domesticated wild pigs, or boars. Near what is now modern-day Turkey, settlers domesticated wild boars that came to their villages for scraps of food about 10,000 years ago. Research also indicates that around 8,000 years ago, wild pigs were domesticated in China's Mekong Valley.
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• 2. Pigs Developed a Dirty Reputation
• Despite their domestication and usefulness, pigs fell out of favor to a certain degree around 3,000 years ago. The Old Testament of the Bible, specifically the Book of Leviticus, deemed pigs "unclean" and forbade the consumption of pig productions. The Quran followed suit in the 7th century. While theories abound as to why pigs were held in low esteem, the likeliest reason is that pigs are happy to consume just about anything, including decaying food and even feces.
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• 3. The Pig Holds a Place in the Chinese Zodiac
• An illustration in red and gold to illustrate the 2019 year of the pig
• People born in the Chinese zodiac's year of the pig are believed to be intelligent and creative types. momo design/Shutterstock
• The pig is the 12th symbol in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. It earned last place in the mythological race to determine each animal's place in the zodiac. The pig, having gotten hungry and then sleepy during the race, was the last to arrive at a meeting called by the Jade Emperor, according to folklore.
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• 4. Pigs Can Save Human Lives
• If you ever need a new heart valve, a pig may come to the rescue. Pigs' heart valves are used to make valves for humans. According to Harvard Health Publishing, these valves last around 15 years and typically don't require the use of anti-clotting drugs as mechanical valves do.
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• What's more, pigs are generally considered the best option for xenotransplantation, or organ transplants between humans and animals. They're just similar enough to us that their organs may work well in our bodies while still being different enough that a cross-species infection isn't as likely as it would be with other primates. More research is needed, however, as trials have resulted in the rejection of some transplants.