On first glance it appears that the animal is simply a bloated pig – a theory the New York Parks Department insist is correct – but closer inspection reveals that the animal appears to have toes rather than hooves.

Online theorists speculated it may be a dog or, even more worrying, a giant rat. Other online comments suggest it could be an aardvark, a raccoon or something related to a possum.

– Mark Hughes, Telegraph.co.uk.

So what is this thing?

As Hughes notes, the Parks Department claims it’s a pig leftover from a cookout, but it appears to have toes. And the vehemence with which the Parks Department is insisting it’s a pig sounds hilariously suspicious. Someone even suggested it washed up from an offshore animal-disease center.

Via the ever-vigilant Rob V.