The zebra-donkey hybrid was born this week

Jul 30, 2010 14:14 GMT  ·  By

This week, the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in north Georgia, United States, welcomed the first zebra-donkey hybrid in America. The “zedonk” has a donkey for a mother and a zebra stallion for a father and it is quite a rare animal.

The animal is a mix between a zebra and donkey. With black stripes prominently displayed on her legs and face, her zebra heritage is readily apparent, but her slender face and spindly legs are more donkey-like.

Preserve keepers were rather surprised when the new “baby” was born. But contrary to what people might think, this is not the first time this has happened in the world. Apparently in 2005, a zebra gave birth to a zedonk in Barbados, and three zedonks were born in a European zoo, back in the 1970s, from a female donkey.

White tigers are more of our calling card, but this is one of the most unique animals that has ever been born here,” C.W. Wathen, the preserve’s general manager and founder said. “The animals have been running (in the fields) together for more than 40 years, but this is the first time that this has happened here. We never suspected that they (had mated), so it was quite a surprise when the zedonk was born.”

Wathen says the zedonk has most of the zebra father's behavior. “Usually, a foal will lay over on its side, sunning itself,” Wathen added. “But the zedonk sits up at all time — like she’s on alert looking out for predators. She’s still got some of her wild instincts.”

Other than zebras, donkeys, and zedonks, the 25-acre nonprofit preserve has colorful macaws, giant tortoises, white tigers, black leopards and a 2-month-old wolf, gainsvilletimes.com relates.

“We keep all the animals fed really well, so a lot of the animals that would normally be predators in the wild run together in the same areas here,” Wathen explained. “In the wild they are competing for food, but here they don’t have to compete, so there’s no fighting.”

With such a hospitable environment, no wonder the animals are more friendly than they would normally be. This zedonk is unique in the United States and it will probably be the preserve’s favorite mascot. And if it gets the care and attention it deserves then it is one lucky zebra/donkey.