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The story of Pig 311 and the atomic bomb tests of Bikini Atoll
In 1946, the US government set off two atomic bombs at the Bikini Atoll to see what would happen to the wildlife. (Spoiler: Turns out atomic blasts aren’t really so good for wildlife.)
As part of the experiments, 3,000 plus animals were placed on boats around the test site to study what would happen when they were exposed to radiation. Most died immediately or within weeks, but scientists were amazed to find one pig who had escaped her sinking ship and was swimming her little heart out for shore.
Pig 311 went on to spend three years at the Naval Medical Research Institute and then lived at the Smithsonian Zoo until her death in 1950. Attempts to breed her were unsuccessful, leading scientists to speculate that the radiation sterilized her, but that’s probably just as well, because, you know, mutant pigs.
Still, surviving radiation from two atomic bombs, the sinking of a ship, and countless tests? That’s some pig.
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posted 07 July, 2012
by InFaDeLiTy
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