Nature & Environment
Rare Zebra-Donkey Hybrid ‘Zonkey’ Born at Mexico Zoo [VIDEO]
Benita Matilda
First Posted: Apr 26, 2014 08:17 AM EDT
A northern Mexico Zoo announced the arrival of its newest addition, a rare zebra-donkey hybrid, 'zonkey', born on 21 April.
The blue-eyed rare zonkey calf was born to mother Rayas (a zebra) and dad Ignacio, an albino donkey. Lovingly called Khumba by the zoo staff, the calf was born at the Reynosa zoo in Mexico. Khumba is one of the few hybrids in the world.
The adorable cross-breed has black and white stripes on its legs similar to a zebra and other features such as face, ears and fur of a donkey, according to Nature World News.
According to the zoo authorities, such a cross breed is rare as zebra and donkey chromosomes are considered to be non-compatible. Khumba was a product of a small love affair. Mother Rayas was attracted to donkey Ignacio and visited him every afternoon and eventually after several months Rayas became pregnant, reports Fox News.
Khumba is not the first rare mix of donkey and zebra.
Last year, a zonkey named Ippo born in Italy, was a huge media sensation and he was not a product of intentional breeding. Ippo carried soft hair and paws of zebra and ears and muzzle of donkey. He was born at the wildlife center for neglected animals. He was born to Jade (donkey) and Martin (zebra). In 2010 a zonkey named Pippi was born at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve near Daglonega, Georgia.
There are others zonkeys scattered in other parts of the world like China, Germany and Georgia.
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First Posted: Apr 26, 2014 08:17 AM EDT
A northern Mexico Zoo announced the arrival of its newest addition, a rare zebra-donkey hybrid, 'zonkey', born on 21 April.
The blue-eyed rare zonkey calf was born to mother Rayas (a zebra) and dad Ignacio, an albino donkey. Lovingly called Khumba by the zoo staff, the calf was born at the Reynosa zoo in Mexico. Khumba is one of the few hybrids in the world.
The adorable cross-breed has black and white stripes on its legs similar to a zebra and other features such as face, ears and fur of a donkey, according to Nature World News.
According to the zoo authorities, such a cross breed is rare as zebra and donkey chromosomes are considered to be non-compatible. Khumba was a product of a small love affair. Mother Rayas was attracted to donkey Ignacio and visited him every afternoon and eventually after several months Rayas became pregnant, reports Fox News.
Khumba is not the first rare mix of donkey and zebra.
Last year, a zonkey named Ippo born in Italy, was a huge media sensation and he was not a product of intentional breeding. Ippo carried soft hair and paws of zebra and ears and muzzle of donkey. He was born at the wildlife center for neglected animals. He was born to Jade (donkey) and Martin (zebra). In 2010 a zonkey named Pippi was born at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve near Daglonega, Georgia.
There are others zonkeys scattered in other parts of the world like China, Germany and Georgia.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone