"Mr. Strong Pig:" The Ultimate Earthquake Survivor

China's pandas have gotten quite a bit of media coverage following the earthquake.  From panda funerals, to endangered habitats, to special panda exhibits in the Beijing Zoo, it seems like the nation's unofficial animal mascot has all the fun. 

Now one special pig is giving the pandas a run for their money.    The pig, now nicknamed "Zhu Jianqiang, or "Strong Pig" survived thirty six days buried beneath rubble.  Before the quake, he was a healthy 330 lbs, but after surviving days only eating charcoal, he dropped two thirds of his body weight. 

Because the pig was confined to such a small space of about one and a half square feet and had plenty of stored fat, he was able to survive without food and water for days.  After the pig was rescued, one eyewitness told Xinhua News, the pig looked like a goat.

The Chengdu Commercial Daily reports that the Jianchuan Museum curator bought the pig from a farmer for 3,008 RMB, and he plans to keep Strong Pig "as a living symbol of the earthquake disaster."

With nearly 90,000 dead or injured after the earthquake, there are still amazing stories of hope amidst the devastation, especially for Strong Pig.  Instead of ending up as the filler of a pork dumpling, he will be able to live a long, fat, and happy life.