And now, ladies and gentlemen, we bring to you: the zonkey!
A new species
According to CNN, a zebra at the Chyulu Hills National Park in Kenya was recently found with a peculiar-looking foal by her side.It had stripes, but they weren't dark and they didn’t entirely cover her body like how a zebra’s stripes should.
In fact, it only had some stripes on its legs.
When caregivers at an animal rescue and rehabilitation organisation called Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, examined the foal up close, they were excited to discover it wasn't exactly a zebra after all.
It’s actually a zonkey, a zebra-donkey hybrid.
"Working with wildlife, one learns to expect the unexpected.
"Even the most seemingly straightforward story can eventually reveal its true stripes and end up surprising us all," the group said in a statement as quoted by CNN.
The statement further said that the zebra, which is a stray, had obviously become acquainted with an amorous donkey when she joined a local cattle herd.
"The zonkey combines the sturdy body of its donkey sire and the striped legs of its zebra mother, which makes for a striking creature.
"While it should otherwise lead a normal life, zonkeys are mules, meaning that it will be unable to successfully breed once it reaches maturity,” the news further said.
The mama zebra and its proud little kid are now thriving at their new habitat in the Chyulu Hulls National Park.
Wish we could have a zonkey in Malaysia, right?