Sikkim, India - A rare four-legged chicken hatched in Kitam village of India's northeastern Sikkim state.
The bird has two normal front legs while a pair of limb-type bough suspended behind.
Speaking to the reporter, veterinary expert, Arjun Adhikari, said on Saturday (September 01), that there is no definite reason behind the deformity and could be operated. However, in India worshipping a rare structured animal or killing it is not a new practice.
"Polymelia is basically a genetic deformity. It happens during development of embryo and sometimes not only in chicks but other animals also this happens and it's not a surprising thing but it happens very rarely," said Adhikari.
The rare four-legged chicken was hatched five months ago and has been living a normal life like other chickens.
"If it a major vital organ, it needs a major surgery otherwise limps and all we can take out with minor surgery and they can survive for their normal life," Adhikari added.
This is a birth defect condition referred to as polymelia wherein the affected animal is born with more than the usual number of limbs.