Pony gives birth to half-zebra
2001-06-26 12:15
London - Tilly the Shetland pony has given birth to a half- zebra foal on a farm in the north of England.
She spent some time in a wildlife park keeping a zebra stallion company, but staff failed to recognise the tell-tale signs when Tilly started growing in girth, Karen Pete, manager of the visitor attraction where Tilly lives, said on Tuesday.
The as yet unnamed foal is thriving at the Eden Ostrich World at Langwathby Hall Farm near Penrith in Cumbria, after Tilly gave birth a week ago.
"She was fairly fat when we received her and we thought that she was getting fatter. It really was a bit of a shock when we got up one morning and we saw the foal that was there. We realised then what had happened," Pete said.
"It is really quite rare in this country. There are only one or two of them," she added.
Visitors will be able to get a glimpse of Tilly and her daughter - dubbed a "zetland" by some commentators - at the centre from Monday, when it reopens its gift shop and tea room. It has been closed since March because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Pete said she planned to run a competition to name the foal. - Sapa-DPA
- SAPA