Image of captured, dead Hogzilla with its hunter Chris Griffin.

Hogzilla (a portmanteau of hog and Godzilla) was a notably large male hybrid of wild hog and domestic pig that was shot and killed by Chris Griffin in Alapaha, Georgia, United States, on June 17, 2004, on Ken Holyoak's fish farm and hunting reserve.[1] It was alleged to be 12 feet (3.7 m) long and weighed over 1,000 pounds (450 kg). It was originally widely considered a hoax or urban legend.[2]

The animal's remains were exhumed in early 2005 and studied by forensic scientists for an episode of Explorer for the National Geographic Channel. In March 2005, these scientists confirmed that Hogzilla actually weighed 800 pounds (360 kg) and was between 6.9 feet (2.1 m) and 8.6 feet (2.6 m) long, diminishing the previous claim. DNA testing was performed, revealing that Hogzilla was a hybrid of wild boar and domestic pig (Hampshire breed).[2] However, compared to most wild boars and domestics, Hogzilla was still an unusually large specimen.[3] Hogzilla's tusks measured nearly 28 inches (71 cm) and 19 inches (48 cm).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Dewan, Shaila (2005-03-19). "DNA tests to reveal if possible record-size boar is a pig in a poke". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  2. 1 2 ABC GMA (2005-03-21). "The Mystery of Hogzilla Solved". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  3. ↑ "Image of "Hogzilla"". National Geographic Television. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved September 1, 2007.
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