The Extraordinary Tale of Chang and Eng Bunker

Out of every 50,000 to 60,000 births, just one involves conjoined twins, says the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Of these, 70 percent are girls; sadly, many don’t survive birth. But the most well-known of such twins were Chang and Eng Bunker from what we now call Thailand.

Thanks to their popularity in the US, the term “Siamese Twins” was used, which was later changed to conjoined twins. They led fulfilling lives as farmers, marrying two sisters and becoming proud fathers. Exhibitions around the globe had people eager to meet them. But they eventually both died just three hours apart in 1875.

Next: Defying all odds from birth.