ZEBRA CROSSING
Half zebra, half donkey – all we know is he’s adorable!
Meet Britain’s second ever zonkey – a cross between a zebra and a donkey. Zippy, an ultra-rare zebradonkey crossbreed was born on 2 October on Kristine Turner’s farm in South Barrow, Somerset.
His mother Ziggy, a six-year-old zebra who was bought from Germany, shares the fields with nine donkeys.
Despite desperately wanting Ziggy to become a mother, Kristine gave up hope years ago – until Rag, a four-year-old donkey, showed interest.
There is thought to be only one other zonkey in Britain – Zambi, who lives on a donkey sanctuary in Shropshire.
Mum-of-two Kristine, 39, said: ‘I’ve always wanted it to happen, but a few years ago I had given up hope.
‘Rag and Ziggy have been on the farm for years. ‘Ziggy has always been a bit porky, so I didn’t notice she was getting any bigger.
‘It was a complete surprise.
‘One morning I opened my bedroom curtains, which look onto the farm, and I just saw this little foal sitting up, staring my way.
‘I was in complete shock.
‘I ran downstairs in my pyjamas, put a coat on and went straight over to see him.
‘He seemed like a right little character and has had a personality from day one. ‘He’s half a wild animal, so he’ll nip and kick me a tiny bit, but in a cheeky way.
‘Then he’ll dash off. ‘He has quite a fitting name really. ‘He’s calmed down a bit now as he lets me brush him.
‘Ziggy has really taken to being a mum. ‘Zippy’s never out of her sight. ‘They wander around the farm all day and do everything together. ‘Rag tends to keep out of the way.
‘It was a completely natural process. ‘It wasn’t as if I forced them together and was
trying to engineer it in some way.
‘I bred Rag on the farm four years ago so I had years thinking it was never going to happen - despite really wanting it to. ‘I’m just so happy. ‘Zippy is a little miracle.’