Zebra gives birth to ‘zonkey’ after mating with donkey | Inquirer Technology

LOOK: Zebra gives birth to ‘zonkey’ after mating with donkey

/ 06:34 PM April 13, 2020

zebra, donkey, zonkey

The “zonkey” and its mother zebra. Image: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

A zebra gave birth to a rare zebra-donkey hybrid called a “zonkey” in a national park in Kenya, East Africa.

The conservation group Sheldrick Wildlife Trust announced the foal’s birth at the Chyulu National Park in a statement on April 8.

Article continues after this advertisement

Team members from the organization first spotted the zebra with her baby earlier this year but was unable to get a proper look until weeks later. Upon getting a closer glance at the baby animal, the team was finally able to confirm that it was a zebra-donkey hybrid.

FEATURED STORIES

“While zebra foals are born with white and brown stripes that eventually turn black, this little one’s body was suspiciously light on stripes and overwhelmingly tawny in color,” the organization explained.

“At first, we thought that it had just been wallowing in the mud bath, but then the truth dawned on us: our wayward zebra had given birth to a zonkey!” they added.

Article continues after this advertisement
zebra, donkey, zonkey

The “zonkey” and its mother zebra. Image: Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The group also pointed out that a “zonkey” is a “highly unusual” hybrid between a zebra and a donkey. Since the gestation period of a zebra is 12 months, the organization said that it “obviously [become] acquainted with an amorous donkey” in the past year before it was transported to its current home.

Article continues after this advertisement

The zebra had initially lived in a community bordering another wildlife center, the Tsavo East National Park, before moving to the Chyulu National Park.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The zonkey combines the sturdy body of its donkey sire and the striped legs of its zebra mother, which makes for a striking creature,” the group explained. “While it should otherwise lead a normal life, zonkeys are mules, meaning that it will be unable to successfully breed once it reaches maturity.”

The organization said that the mother and her baby are “thriving,” and will be released into the wild once they are discovered by other wild zebras. JB

Article continues after this advertisement

RELATED STORIES: 

Two giant pandas finally mate after 10 years of trying

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

WATCH: Shark washed ashore saved by Good Samaritan

TOPICS: Africa, Hybrid, Kenya, zebra
TAGS: Africa, Hybrid, Kenya, zebra

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.