Villagers flock to see two-headed calf in southern India as farmer bottle feeds the newborn because it cannot lift its mouths up to suckle from mother

 A baby calf with two heads, four eyes and two mouths has become a local attraction in Gangaikondan, south India.

A video taken on January 1 shows lines of curious spectators queueing up to see the newborn creature lying in a shed with its mother. 

A woman can be seen bottle feeding the calf, while another holds its head up so it can drink the milk.

The farmer, identified only as Murugan, is having to bottle feed the newborn as its two heads are too heavy for it to lift, leaving it unable to suckle from its mother. The calf sprawled out on a blanket as people come to visit the baby cow in the village of Gangaikondan in south India

The calf sprawled out on a blanket as people come to visit the baby cow in the village of Gangaikondan in south India

The calf is laid out on a blanket as its mother stands nearby while bystanders observe the animal in awe

The calf is laid out on a blanket as its mother stands nearby while bystanders observe the animal in awe

In the clip the newborn, laid out on a blanket, had its head slightly held up by a farmer who shows off the wonder to visitors.

The mother cow could also be seen affectionately licking at her baby's face. 

In another shot, the calf also munches on what appear to be some leaves on the ground. 

Residents from other nearing villages have started to come over to catch a glimpse of the newborn.

The bicephalic calf was born with two heads, four eyes, and two mouths as vets predict its not likely to survive

The bicephalic calf was born with two heads, four eyes, and two mouths as vets predict its not likely to survive 

Villagers from Gangaikondan and other nearby areas come over to visit the unusual calf with two heads

Villagers from Gangaikondan and other nearby areas come over to visit the unusual calf with two heads

A farmer lifts the newborn calf's head slightly as people come to visit the baby cow in the village

A farmer lifts the newborn calf's head slightly as people come to visit the baby cow in the village

But this isn't the first time a cow with the condition has stunned people.

In August 2020, a calf born with two heads, two ears, two mouths and four eyes shocked farmers in Dejiang County, Guizhou Province in south-eastern China.

The calf's mother gave birth to it after a difficult seven-hour labour, according to their owner known as auntie Zhang.

How do animals with two heads function?

Two-headed animals have a condition called polycephaly, which derives from the Greek word poly, meaning 'many' and kephale, meaning 'head'.

Animals with this condition, also referred to as dicephalic parapagus, have two heads on one torso.

Animals with this condition, also referred to as dicephalic parapagus, have two heads on one torso. The unusual condition was captured in a brief film taken in Rawalpindi, Pakistan of a goat (pictured)

Animals with this condition, also referred to as dicephalic parapagus, have two heads on one torso. The unusual condition was captured in a brief film taken in Rawalpindi, Pakistan of a goat (pictured)

Each head of a polycephalic animal has its own brain, and they share control of the organs and limbs, though the specific structure of the connections varies between each case.

Animals with the condition rarely live beyond a few months.

They are referred to as bicephalic or dicephalic if the animals have two heads. If they have three heads they are referred to as tricephalic.

'Although rare, two-headed animals have been documented since the 1800s', according to the video website Newsflare.

Mutant two-headed calf stuns farmers in a Chinese village
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