Instagram star Pig earns Guiness World Record

A pig has made it into the Guinness Book of World Records thanks to its huge number of followers on Instagram.

Four-year-old Vietnamese pot-bellied Merlin won this honor by attracting 1.1 million followers on Instagram as of February 23, with her account featuring videos shared by her owner, Mina Alali, who adopted her in March 2022 and started training her when she was only three months old.

Merlin’s @MerlinThePig page showcases his impressive communication skills, with the pig using buttons placed around his house to play voice recordings stating his needs and desires.

A Guinness World Records spokesman said: “Merlin, now 4, has more than 30 buttons at home that he uses regularly, sparking online debate about how intelligent, emotional and human-like pigs can be given time, patience and positive support.”

In a post from Merlin’s account, he was shown his new award.

The caption read: “Thank you guys from the bottom of our human + piggy hearts – we honestly couldn’t do this without you, and we’re forever grateful for your consistent love and support. Comments saying our content helps combat bad days, depression, anxiety, etc. are what get me up in the morning, even when I’m going through a rough patch. So thank you.” [heart emoji] (sic)”