Pet Pig with Talking Buttons Earns World Record Instagram Following

Merlin the Pig's 1.1 million Instagram followers make him the most-followed pig on social media.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:25pm

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Merlin, a 4-year-old Mini Vietnamese potbelly pig living in Sacramento, California, has earned a Guinness World Record for having the most Instagram followers of any pig. Merlin is known for starring in videos where he presses buttons that play voice recordings to express his feelings and desires, showcasing his intelligence and emotional capacity.

Why it matters

Merlin's record-breaking Instagram following highlights the growing popularity and fascination with intelligent, emotionally expressive animals like pigs. His ability to communicate through button-activated voice recordings challenges common perceptions about pigs and sparks conversations about animal cognition and the human-like qualities of certain animals.

The details

Merlin has over 30 buttons in his home that he uses regularly to communicate, with his Instagram account managed by his owner, Mina Alali, who adopted him in March 2022 and began training him at just 3 months old. Alali shared her excitement about Merlin's Guinness World Record achievement in a celebratory Instagram post, noting that the content featuring Merlin helps many of his followers dealing with mental health challenges.

  • Merlin was adopted by Mina Alali in March 2022.
  • Merlin began training with the communication buttons at 3 months old.
  • Merlin recently earned the Guinness World Record for most Instagram followers for a pig.

The players

Merlin

A 4-year-old Mini Vietnamese potbelly pig living in Sacramento, California, who has earned a Guinness World Record for having the most Instagram followers of any pig, with over 1.1 million followers.

Mina Alali

Merlin's owner who adopted him in March 2022 and began training him to use communication buttons at just 3 months old, managing his popular Instagram account.

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What they’re saying

“Thank you guys from the bottom of our human & piggy hearts – obviously couldn't have done this without you and we are forever grateful for your consistent love and support.”

— Mina Alali, Merlin's Owner

“The comments saying our content helps with bad days, depression, anxiety, etc is what gets me up in the morning even when I myself am going through a rough patch. So thank you.”

— Mina Alali, Merlin's Owner

What’s next

Merlin and his owner Mina Alali plan to continue sharing engaging content featuring Merlin's communication abilities on his record-breaking Instagram account, aiming to further educate and inspire followers about the intelligence and emotional capacity of pigs.

The takeaway

Merlin's remarkable Instagram success and Guinness World Record achievement demonstrate the growing public fascination with animals that exhibit human-like qualities, challenging preconceptions and sparking important conversations about animal cognition and the need for compassionate treatment of all sentient beings.