Merlin the Pig Communicates Emotions Through Buttons

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Merlin, a Mini Vietnamese potbellied pig from Sacramento, California, has captivated millions by using a collection of over 30 buttons to communicate his wants and needs, from requesting snacks to declaring his happiness. Merlin's story is part of a broader shift in our understanding of animal intelligence, as researchers increasingly focus on the complex emotional lives and cognitive abilities of creatures like pigs, which have been shown to exhibit skills comparable to a 3-year-old human child.

Why it matters

Merlin's ability to express himself through communication buttons is challenging long-held assumptions about animal intelligence and welfare. This growing awareness is driving innovation in areas like animal enrichment and training, moving away from traditional methods based on dominance and control towards approaches that prioritize understanding and collaboration between humans and animals.

The details

Merlin's owner, Mina Alali, adopted him in March 2022 and began training him with communication buttons at just three months old. This builds on the work of others, like Christina Hunger, a speech-language pathologist who pioneered the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) buttons with her dog, Stella. The key is recognizing that intelligence isn't monolithic - animals may not think like humans, but they demonstrably think, experience, and communicate in their own ways.

• Merlin was adopted by Mina Alali in March 2022.
• Alali began training Merlin with communication buttons when he was just 3 months old.