FLORENCE, Italy, July 23 (UPI) — Keepers at an Italian animal reserve said a zonkey — a rare hybrid of a zebra and a donkey — was born at the facility and is in good health.
Serena Aglietti, whose family runs the animal reserve in Florence, Italy, said Ippo the zonkey was born a few days ago to a female from an endangered donkey breed from Amiata and a zebra adopted from a failing zoo, ANSA reported Tuesday.
“Ippo is the only one of his kind in Italy,” Aglietti said.
ANSA said other zonkeys have been reported in Germany, China and Georgia.
Managers at the reserve said Ippo’s parents had been separated by a fence but the zebra climbed the barrier to reach his desired mate.
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