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China’s ‘Strong-willed Pig’ that became symbol of hope after Sichuan earthquake dies of old age
- The pig, named Zhu Jianqiang, was discovered in rubble after surviving for 36 days following the devastating 2008 earthquake
- The pig became an emblem of resilience in a country recovering from a natural disaster that left 90,000 people dead or missing
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A male pig in China that became a symbol of hope in the aftermath of the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake died on Wednesday at the age of 14, according to the museum that looked after the animal.
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The museum said the pig died peacefully of “exhaustion” and “old age”.
The pig was named Zhu Jianqiang, meaning “Strong-willed Pig”, after it was discovered amid rubble having survived for 36 days in the aftermath of the 7.9 magnitude quake that left nearly 90,000 people dead or missing and another 370,000 injured.
The pig was named Zhu Jianqiang, meaning “Strong-willed Pig”, after it was discovered amid rubble having survived for 36 days in the aftermath of the 7.9 magnitude quake that left nearly 90,000 people dead or missing and another 370,000 injured.
The pig became a national celebrity after its rescue. Following its rescue, and after losing nearly 100kg (220 pounds) during the 5-week ordeal, Zhu was transformed into a symbol of the will to survive and the “spirit to never give up”.
Rescuers at the time said Zhu was so thin and grubby that they originally thought it was a goat.
The pig’s death did not come as a surprise, as the caretakers at Jianchuan Museum in Sichuan, in southwest China, said in mid-May that Zhu was dying.
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The pig was bought by the museum after people petitioned to ensure it would not be slaughtered because Zhu had become a symbol of hope for many people in China. It has since become a tourist attraction for the museum, and many of the major events in Zhu’s life were reported by the media.
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