Zedonk born in Georgia -- is the heffalump next?
Folks at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve in Georgia are basking in the glow of their new, semi-striped arrival: a four-day-old zedonk, which is a rare cross between a zebra and a donkey. For readers, this may be one of the oddest concoctions since A.A. Milne introduced the elusive heffalump and woozle to Winnie the Pooh stories.
Such donkey/zebra mixes go by several names, including zebronkey, zonkey, zebadonk, zebrass or Golden Zebra, according to QueryHorse.com, which has photos of other examples.
My favorite cross-breed in fiction has to be Pegasus, the winged horse. It always managed to look graceful, despite the odd combo of legs and wings.
p.s. While we're on the topic of crossbreeding, I want to register a pet peeve -- the naming of dogs. I understand the Labradoodle (Labrador and Poodle). But what's with the Goldendoodle (Golden Retriever and Poodle)? There is no "D" in Retriever, so someone is going far afield simply to avoid the word poodle. And as a former owner of a standard poodle, I object, strenuously.
Photo from Associated Press
Comments
Oh my gosh, it's adorable!
Posted by: bermudaonion (Kathy) | July 28, 2010 1:59 PM
you strenuously object? I'm sorry but were you absent the day they taught law at law school?
movie quotes aside, why on earth did they do this?
Posted by: bryanintowson | July 28, 2010 3:01 PM
'THEY' didn't do anything.
The animals did.
Posted by: TelcoPhil | July 28, 2010 3:45 PM
Cute little baby! Maybe they'll have a naming contest for him?
Posted by: Silver Fang | July 28, 2010 4:07 PM
It is adorable. To the person that was upset about the Goldenpoodle going on about there is no D in Retriever. It didn't say Retrieverpoodle it said Goldenpoodle. Were I went to school there was a D in Golden.
Posted by: GLENDA M GALAHAN | July 28, 2010 5:54 PM
Glenda, I'd be OK with Goldenpoodle Sounds better than GoldenRetroodle.
Posted by: Dave | July 28, 2010 6:00 PM
Poodle crosses like Labradoodles are generally referred to as "Doodles", hence Goldendoodle, Aussiedoodle etc. They're great dogs, by the way :)
Posted by: Gem | July 29, 2010 9:15 AM
@telcophil
No, someone did this by allowing zebras and donkeys to comingle.
So I repeat the question... why would anyone want this to happen? What's the benefit? Does this animal have a use? Is it going to be a pet?
Posted by: bryanintowson | July 29, 2010 11:23 AM
@bryanintowson: I don't know whether it was purposeful, but it sure can't hurt the preserve's revenues. I doubt folks would bring the kids to see a donkey, but a zedonk is another story.
Posted by: Dave | July 29, 2010 1:22 PM
Adorable! I heard they named the foal "Pippi Longstocking" but I don't know if that is a fact.
Posted by: Kim | July 29, 2010 5:51 PM