A rooster hops about on four legs while people crowd around it. This is the scene at Greenland Children's Park in Nachol upazila of Chapainawabganj, where children, teenagers and the elderly alike now come to see the four-legged bird.

Shafikul Islam, a resident of Islampur in Nachol upazila, runs a business hatching duck and chicken eggs in a machine. About ten months ago a man from the village gave him a batch of eggs to hatch. All of them hatched, and Shafikul noticed that one of the chicks had four legs. The owner of the eggs took all the other chicks but left that one behind. It grew up at Shafikul's house, and as it got bigger it became clear it was a rooster, not a hen.

News of the four-legged rooster spread through the area. The owner of Greenland Children's Park in Nachol bought it for Tk 300, and it has been at the park ever since. It now weighs about two kilograms. It is the main attraction for visitors, and many want to buy it.

Shahidul Islam, a visitor from Singra upazila in Natore, said the four-legged rooster looked strange, but its colours were very beautiful and he enjoyed seeing it.

Park manager Mizanur Rahman said that although the park has several rides, animals and birds, many people are coming just to see the rooster, taking photos and selfies. Since it was brought to the park it has become the main attraction, drawing people from various places, and children enjoy it too. Several people have been in touch to buy it since it reached one kilogram, and bids have reached Tk 50,000 so far, but it will not be sold for now, he said.

District livestock officer Mostafizur Rahman said it is rare for a four-legged rooster to survive. The real mystery could be understood by going and seeing it directly, he said.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.