Zedonk: Zebra And Donkey Hybrid Born At Chestatee Wildlife Preserve (PHOTO)

DAHLONEGA, Ga. — A zedonk, an unusual cross between a donkey and a zebra, is attracting attention at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Dahlonega after being born there about a week ago. The animal, which has a zebra father and donkey mother, has black stripes prominently displayed on her legs and face.

C.W. Wathen, the preserve's founder and general manager, said the foal has a zebra's instincts. Wathen said she sits up instead of lying on her side, as if she's staying alert for predators.

Donkeys and zebras don't usually mate, but zedonks turn up occasionally.

Wathen said that in about two weeks, the zedonk will begin roaming the property with the rest of the animals.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.gainesvilletimes.com

Comments

[justicewanted]

12:31 PM on 08/01/2010

Just visited the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve Saturday 07/31/2010 to see the new Zedonk baby. I was appalled to see that the male and female lions, Siberian Tiger, grizzly, wolves, and Serval are in enclosures that are only large enough so they can sleep, eat, and pace back and forth. They have a Peacock in the general area which contained the enclosure for the Serval, and the Serval wanted in the worse way to get that Peacock. He was on his haunches just dying to pounce on the Peacock. I saw the bear cub pacing nonstop, I was upset that he was all alone for one thing, looked like he may have been looking for his mother, and had absolutly nowhere to go but back and forth.

The snakes: There were very large pythons crambed into small glass enclosures, only large enough so the snakes can curl up and lie in a corner or in their water.

This place is a disgrace. I will never go back, and I will see to it that my connections to Animal Rescue organizations here in Georgia are well informed of the living conditions forced upon these beautiful animals. If these animals were rescued from other substandard facilities, I would hope that they would have been better provided for.

[judiNJ]

06:20 PM on 07/30/2010

Cutie pie!

[inkongirl]

01:39 PM on 07/30/2010

It's so cute!

[SmartladyDem]

10:24 PM on 07/29/2010

I would have gone with Zonky or Deebra. Adorable little thing.

[chonus]

08:45 PM on 07/29/2010

Ridonkulous.

[Oso Wallman]

07:18 PM on 07/29/2010

The game show , Let's Make a Deal, would present these as the loser prize- Zonkeys they were called.

[plzchuteme]

02:57 PM on 07/29/2010

It kinda looks like Pipi Longstockings.

[niko73]

01:50 PM on 07/29/2010

Of course they can interbreed. Zerbras are just donkeys with stripes. In Swahili a donkey is a "punda" and a Zebra is a "punda milia" or "striped donkey." There's your Swahili lesson for the day, folks.

[booki]

12:09 PM on 07/29/2010

so adorable, and the best news is, born on preserve.

[CindyM272]

09:53 AM on 07/29/2010

'Donkey's and zebra's don't usually mate'
Wow, good sciencologying!

[SweetestTaboo]

08:15 AM on 07/29/2010

Are these anything like the donkey/elephant hybrids found in Congress?

[judiNJ]

06:20 PM on 07/30/2010

You mean like Joe Lieberman?

[Donns]

07:54 AM on 07/29/2010

This is really gonna confuse God, he's (or maybe she)is old and won't remember making that in case we have to get on another boat.

[Complex757]

07:40 AM on 07/29/2010

I guess the Zebra was hard up

[casaroonc]

08:19 AM on 07/29/2010

Or the Donkey was Hot!

[Complex757]

11:50 AM on 07/29/2010

Good one...lol

[invirginia]

03:49 PM on 07/29/2010

Or hung.

[J Travis Morton]

07:40 AM on 07/29/2010

hundred bucks says her name is 'Debra'

[Caru]

07:01 AM on 07/29/2010

That's witchcraft!