By Tim Binnall
A goat in Pakistan has become something of a sensation thanks to its enormous ears, which measure a whopping 21 inches in length. The jaw-dropping creature, dubbed Simba, was reportedly born in Karachi last month and, as word of the wondrous animal began to spread, the creature quickly became an unexpected celebrity in its home country and spawned headlines around the world. "Within 10 to 12 days of his birth, he was already appearing in all the national and international media," marveled Simba's owner Mohammad Hasan Narejo, "within 30 days, he became so popular that even a famous personality might take 25 to 30 years to achieve this level of fame."
Understandably proud of the unique creature, Narejo has even attempted to get Guinness World Records to award Simba with the honor of being the 'longest-eared goat.' Alas, such a category does not exist, though one assumes that the animal's owner is hoping that the record keepers will see to it to create the title. Beyond the unfulfilled championship chase, Simba has also faced a few challenges brought about by its prodigious ears, most notably difficulty with walking due to the animal's propensity to trip over its prodigious appendages. Fortunately, Narejo has managed to solve that problem by designing a special 'ear harness' for the goat.
Perhaps more troubling, Narejo laments, are concerns that the creature could be cursed by rival goat breeders who are jealous of Simba's blossoming stardom. As such, the animal's owner has turned to prayer in order to ward off such bad karma. "We recite Koranic verses and blow on him to cast away the evil eye,” Narejo revealed, "following a long tradition we inherited from our elders, we have fastened a black thread around him that is fortified with Koranic verses." As for what the future holds for Simba, his owner hopes that the eye-catching creature can serve as a symbol for the Pakistani goat breeding industry, which he contends is the best in the world.