Insta‑ham: Merlin the Pig oinks his way to a world record
A California pig is officially in the spotlight after entering the record books.
Four-year-old pig phenomenon Merlin the Pig has won the Guinness World Records title for having the most Instagram followers of a pig: 1.1 million.
Guinness confirmed Merlin’s milestone by counting his fan base as of February 23, declaring him the undisputed king of pig-streaming culture. The curly-tailed celebrity lives in California with her owner Mina Alali, who adopted her in March 2022 and started training her when she was only three months old.
Merlin is not only cute, but also smart. Videos on Instagram show him using more than 30 buttons placed around the house; each of these plays an audio recording that allows him to “tell” Alali exactly what he wants.
Guinness said: “Merlin, now 4, has more than 30 buttons at home that he uses regularly, sparking debate online about how intelligent, emotional and human-like pigs can be given time, patience and positive support.”
Fans watch Merlin “chat” every day, demanding snacks, demanding cuddles, and generally living his best pig life. Button-pressing antics have sparked debate about animal intelligence.
Merlin’s rise from rescue piglet to global superstar has been thrilling, and it’s clear he’s not slowing down with over a million followers hooked on every inch of him. He might be the only influencer who can say he’ll bring home the bacon without actually leaving the house.
