Adorable Pygmy Goats May Be ‘Impure,’ But We Don’t Care

Wondering what the “impure” pygmy goats in our recent print article look like? Get your aww’s ready.

At Pacific Standard, we often write about academic research. It’s very important, ground-breaking, paradigm-shifting stuff. But it also means that we have to stretch pretty far to give our readers what we know they really want … aww-inducinganimals.

Never fear, because in Brendan Borrell’s recent story from our September/October issue, “What Color Is Your Pygmy Goat?,” he describes the oddly intense battle over the genetic purity of tiny, adorable goats. Goats like Imagine, pictured below, the kid of a goat named Only Imagine, who has a brother named Imagine That. Also, they’re all descended from a goat named Twinkle’s Star. Really.

Imagine is a young pygmy goat at Proverbial Pygmies Ranch, Jamul, California. (Photo: Brendan Borrell)

Pregnant Miley is “short but wide-bellied, as if she has swallowed a portable fridge.” (Photo: Brendan Borrell)

They grow to about two feet high and 80 pounds, a third of the size of a regular goat, and 4,000 percent more cuddle-able. We started an informal petition to buy one as a mascot and beloved office pet, but to no avail. Maybe you’ll have better luck. —Bettina Chang

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