Kenyan Zebra Girl and Donkey Fall in Love, Produce Rare Foal - What Should It Be Called?
A zebra and a donkey, wind, horses, and donkeys are unrelated, but recently, in Kenya's Kereu Mountain National Park, people discovered a female zebra, accompanied by a foal. It was obviously her child. However, the foal seemed not to be of the same species as her, was she adopting another animal as a son?
Animal rescue and rehabilitation organizations received the report and, after close observation of the mother and child, discovered a phenomenon that was both familiar and strange. Familiar was the foal's legs bearing zebra markings, proving it had a relationship with the mother zebra. Strange was that its other characteristics seemed to have little to do with zebras, as if… well, like a donkey!
Was the female zebra secretly conspiring with a male donkey, and had a remarkable encounter? Staff quickly clarified that the zebra lady was a wandering zebra, who last year ventured into a community in Kenya's Tsavo East National Park, and spent some time with local livestock.
It was during its time with the local community that the zebra lady fell in love with a white donkey, and a hormone interaction led to a mixing of genetic material, resulting in the birth of this non-donkey-non-zebra foal.
Zebras and donkeys both belong to the Equidae family, and can produce hybrids, such as the familiar mule. So what is the hybrid born from a zebra and a donkey called? This is really difficult to name, and the names currently seen are: zonkey, but it may not be accurate, following the general 'father' principle, 'donkey zebra' seems more accurate.
The donkey zebra is destined to become a star in Kereu Mountain National Park, and bring in more tourists. However, like mules, donkey zebras can live normally in Kereu Mountain Park for life, but they will not have offspring as they grow up. The one-night encounter between the female zebra and the male donkey, despite breaking down the boundaries between domestic animals and wild animals, also resulted in a regrettable and painful child.
