Strong Pig, amazing earthquake survivor, dies

Strong Pig — also known as Zhu Jianqiang — died of old age at 10:50 pm on Wednesday in Sichuan province, the Jianchuan Museum in Dayi county announced. She was 14 years old.

The legendary survivor of the May 2008 Sichuan earthquake, was found surviving on charcoal and rainwater 36 days after the quake.

The sow became a symbol of hope and was adopted by the museum. Since then, visitors have come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the famous pig.

Over the past 13 years, she remained strong in spirit but lately was physically frail and required human help just to stand up.

The natural aging process caught up with the legend, said Gong Guocheng, Strong Pig's keeper since 2015.

"She eats little, has problems like aging limbs and needs constant, long-term medication. Most of the time, she just lies in her pen," Gong said in May.

According to deputy curator He Yong, plans are afoot to honor Strong Pig by preserving her body. Her home will be converted into a small museum.