In the strangest ever union, a pig and her better half "tied the knot" in a special ceremony with well-wishers showering their blessings on the couple at a small town in northeastern Taiwan.

The "bridegroom," - a 40 pound boar, and his "bride," just a few pounds lighter entered their marital bliss in a lavish ceremony presided over by local magistrate Lu Kuo-hwa on Monday.

While the world is inundated with problems of population explosion, a state in Germany is facing a sudden rise in the population of pigs. The population of pigs has reportedly overshot the number of people residing in the state of Lower Saxony, the pig capital of pork-loving Germany.

For the first time in a span of 20 years, the number of swine hit 8.02 million in 2006, as good prices led to increased herd numbers, the state farmers' association said Thursday.

In celebration of the Year of the Pig this 2007, Chinese authorities are introducing postage stamps that smells and taste like the popular Chinese dish of sweet and sour pork.

The stamps have been out in the market ahead of the official Chinese New Year which falls on February 18, it was reported.

The South Koreans have named the year 2007 as the "year of pig." Koreans hail the year of pig as a prosperous year among other 12 animal gods on the Chinese Zodiac.

The locals are looking forward to the coming year since 2007 has been distinguished as the "the Year of the Golden Pig," which comes every 600 years.

A Texas man protested the proposed building of a mosque next to his property by holding pig races and selling sausages. About 100 people showed up to catch the races.

Muslims are forbidden to eat pork. Craig Baker, 46, said he was defending his rights and his property.