The tawny-coated kid goat has attracted thousands of followers on YouTube and other channels since he was born in Karachi, Pakistan on June 4.
“We have given 95 interviews to international and local media of Pakistan,” his breeder, Mohammad Hassan Narejo, told Reuters.
“Every news channel and newspaper ran its headlines with his pictures on the front page. I don’t think any sportsman, politician or member of the armed forces, any extraordinary actor or anchor, any superstar, or any celebrity has ever attracted such fame at the age of 34 days, like Simba has.”
Hassan has sent Simba’s details to the Guinness Book of Records, seeking to register the animal as the world’s “Greatest of All Time” – or GOAT – goat.
But no category currently appears to exist for the longest-eared goat, so it is unclear whether Simba’s ears are indeed record-breaking. Hassan is still waiting for an answer.
When Simba was born, his ears were 48cm, or 19 inches, long. They have grown another 7cm in just over a month and show no signs of stopping.
According to his breeder, being born with such lengthy features presents unique challenges – especially the fact that the lengthy lobes are a trip hazard.
To prevent an accident, Hassan has resorted to folding Simba’s ears around his back. “I also got a special velvet harness or pouch to keep his ears, so he can run and play with ease without getting entangled.”
Hassan works in the air-traffic control department of Karachi airport, but his passion is goat breeding, and he has great plans for Simba.
“I plan to preserve Simba’s semen for artificial insemination so, if, God forbid, he is no more, his breed can continue,” he said.
He feeds Simba milk three times a day and has taken other steps to ensure his wellbeing – including a black thread around the animal’s throat to ward off the evil eye.
This is born out of fear of rival breeders, whose unwanted attention is a source of concern for Hassan.
“The evil eye can destroy a mountain. Simba is just a kid goat with celebrity status,” he said.