Call It Zonkey or a Deebra?

MSNBC ^ | April 29, 2005 | The Associated Press

[MississippiMasterpiece]

ST. THOMAS, Barbados - It's male. But what is it? A zonkey? A deebra? That's the debate in Barbados since a zebra gave birth to a foal sired by a donkey.

Alex was born April 21, a milk-chocolate brown creature with the black stripes of a zebra on his ears and legs. His face looks more like a horse, with a distinctive black "V" patch on the forehead.

"It's really funny and a little bit freaky," said Natalie Harvey, a 29-year-old waitress. "I was stunned to hear about such a weird thing happening here."

While zebra hybrids are not uncommon, most Barbadians have never seen anything like Alex.

His mother, Allison, is one of two zebras brought to the Caribbean island from Botswana, in southern Africa, in the early 1990s. The other is George and both live at Highland, a six-acre ranch where goats, sheep, ducks and donkeys roam free.

George, however, suffered a long illness, and Allison became friendly with a donkey.

"We knew she was with foal but were not sure who the father was," said Philip Atwell, the head of Highland ranch.

[MississippiMasterpiece]

A female zebra named Allison frolicking with her foal named Alex at the Highland plantation in St. Thomas parish, Barbados.

[Clemenza]

Best animal hybrid: LIGERS.

[Not A Snowbird]

Aw, he's adorable.

[madison10]

The Zonkey is cute. Poor thing can't hide in the trees/grass as well as it's mother, though. Those stripes are there for a reason. 'Course if it's in captivity...

[Wiseghy]

I was under the impression that Zebras and Donkey's were closely related, with similar temperaments.

[najida]

Oh my! He's sooo cute!

But will he be teased for wearing striped stockings?

[dead]

Call It Zonkey or a Deebra?

If they can teach it to invent nonsensical news stories, they can call it Debka.

[xcamel]

They aren't new - allways known as a "ZeeDonk"

[kingattax]

what do you get when you cross a jackass with a democRAT ?

[Miss Behave]

I prefer Ligers.

Hey Fierce, what was your old tag? Something about Zebras being the free range bar codes of the Serengeti?

[Not A Snowbird]

What's the difference?

[kingattax]

exactly

[Not A Snowbird]

:-)

[Fester Chugabrew]

From an onomatopoetic, aesthetic, and comedic standpoint "zonkey" beats "deebra" hands down.

[LizardQueen]

I agree, he's very cute. Fuzzy little thing, nice striped leggings....

LQ

[nuconvert]

donkbra,zonkey,deebra,zeedonk....pong

[KarlInOhio]

Let me tell you what a jackass your father was.

[Lekker 1]

Yeah...their pretty much my favorite animal too!

[MississippyMuddy]

Pfft, ain't nuthin, wait till you breed one of these critters.....

[doberville]

"what do you get when you cross a jackass with a democRAT?"

Oh, but you repeat yourself. . .silly person.