Zonkeys can live in the wild though, although they are very rare and the majority of Zonkeys are found in zoos around the world. A “zonkey” is a hybrid cross produced by mating a zebra and a donkey. The zonkey’s darker stripes are most prominent on these lighter parts of the body and their legs. Interesting Zonkey Facts: Zonkey can reach 3.5 to 5 feet in height and 500 to 700 pounds of weight. Zonkeys are also referred to as zebonkey, zebrinny, zebrula, zebadonks, and several other interesting names, depending on who is breeding them and what combination of donkey and zebra species are being used. One of the Zonkey’s most favourable characteristics is their sheer power which is made up of the stamina of the Donkey mixed with the speed and strength of the Zebra, which has led to them being used as work animals mainly to pull heavy loads. Geep: In 2000, a rare goat-sheep hybrid was born in Botswana. Despite their large size and the fact that they are long-living animals, both Zebras and Donkeys (and therefore Zonkeys) are important prey to numerous carnivores throughout their natural range. Though male zonkeys are viable, they cannot reproduce and are totally sterile. In 2014 this tradition will have it's 100 year anniversary, given that the oldest picture of a tourist on a Tijuana donkey is from August 24th 1914, and in the year 1939 is when the first Zonkeys appeared. They are also being pushed into more isolated regions of the natural habitats meaning a decrease in the likelihood of wild Zonkeys. Sadly however, the world’s Zonkeys tend to be found in zoos and animal institutions where they are generally bred deliberately. Prepare to meet a unique team within the Basketball Circuit of the Pacific Coast (Cibacopa). Zonkeys are also referred to as zebonkey, zebrinny, zebrula, zebadonks, and several other interesting names, depending on who is breeding them and what combination of donkey and zebra species are being used. Like numerous other hybrid animals, the Zonkey itself cannot produce offspring of its own, as the cross-breeding of two different species often results in their young being sterile and unable to continue a population. Zookeepers in Reynosa, Mexico, recently witnessed a female zebra give birth to a "zonkey." At Bear Creek we house over 100 animals, some of which are the most beautiful and most rare species from around the world. Though species as distinct as zebras and donkeys may look very different, they express a lot of the same proteins. Zonkey. Like Donkeys, Zebras, Horses and their other relatives, Zonkeys are herbivorous animals meaning that they survive on a diet that is solely comprised of plant matter. They are tan, brown, or gray in overall color, but with a lighter underside. By Konstantin Bikos, Anne Buckle, and Vigdis Hocken. Since none of the males are fertile, the females must be paired with either a donkey or a zebra. Zonkeys have been mentioned by naturalists for centuries including Darwin who mentioned the possibility of a fertile female Zonkey that was being exhibited at the London Zoo. Evolutionary biologist J.B.S. Since all members of Equus are fairly similar, many combinations are possible. In the late 1880s, a team of scientists introduced a method of subdividing the world into various time zones. Hybrids have been created with a wide variety of species. Cercopithecidae family - 139 species in Africa and Asia; As you can see, Simians, or the Simiiformes infra order is very extensive, with several families and more than 200 species of monkeys. “Zonkey.” Biology Dictionary. Like many other animal hybrids around the world including the mule and the liger however, the Zonkey is a sterile creature meaning that it cannot produce offspring of it's own. According to The Horse, there are only four zebroids in the world, and it's all due to chromosome issues. Essentially, hybrids can even go on to become their own species if they inherit an even number of chromosomes (to ensure the success of meiosis) from relatively closely related species. Technically though, an individual is only classed as a Zonkey if it is sired from a male Zebra and female Donkey, as one that has a male Donkey and female Zebra parents is known as a Zedonk. Though species in the genus have varying numbers of chromosomes, they have evolved along very similar lines. Unlike the liger though, it is actually quite possible for Zonkeys to live in the wild as zebras and donkeys are naturally found in close proximity to one another in parts of Africa. But several time zones have only 30 and 45 minutes offsets, making the total number worldwide much higher. The Zebra part also gives the Zorse resistance to certain pests and diseases that normally affect both … Telegraph was an unplanned addition to the world’s zonkey population. Since 2010 Tijuana Zonkeys represents the whole personality of the most busy Mexican border in the world. Their head and ears are both large, looking more like a donkey than a zebra. The Zonkey is a hybrid animal that is created by cross-breeding two different species of animal that belong to the same genetic group. While this sometimes produces infertility, there can be positive benefits. Although we often only think of Donkeys as being domesticated animals, wild herds of Donkeys can still be found living on the continent and in herds up to 100 strong in northern Africa, but this is an area that is not inhabited by Zebras and so the chances of a Zonkey occurring under these conditions would be extremely rare. For example, mules are much stronger, more heat-tolerant, and live longer than the average horse. History. Zonkeys have a zebra mother or zebra father and are crossed with a donkey. A reader recently asked: Which U.S. presidents had dogs and what were their breeds? Which first family had over 30 pets and gave the White […] Read More, David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2011) Animal, The Definitive Visual Guide To The World's Wildlife, Tom Jackson, Lorenz Books (2007) The World Encyclopedia Of Animals, David Burnie, Kingfisher (2011) The Kingfisher Animal Encyclopedia, Richard Mackay, University of California Press (2009) The Atlas Of Endangered Species, David Burnie, Dorling Kindersley (2008) Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Animals, Dorling Kindersley (2006) Dorling Kindersley Encyclopedia Of Animals, David W. Macdonald, Oxford University Press (2010) The Encyclopedia Of Mammals, Hybrid Animals, Available here: http://www.hybrid-animals.com/, Zonkey Information, Available here: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/zonkey-information.html, Donkey Facts, Available here: http://www.honoluluzoo.org/donkey.htm, About Zebras, Available here: http://www.outtoafrica.nl/animals/engzebra.html. 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