It's Not a Zebra, It's Not a Donkey, It's a Zeedonk!

Earl the donkey spent the last several summers in the same pen as Sassy the zebra at the Highwire Deer and Animal Farm in Woodbury.

Although Earl and Sassy didn't hit it off at first, they did eventually and just last week Sassy gave birth to a zeedonk.

"We've been attempting for three years to get a mating from Earl ... and it finally happened," farm owner John Hardisty said.

Now the zeedonk, with a face like a donkey and stripes on its legs, follows its mother around like a shadow in a small pen on the Woodbury farm. Their neighbor, a camel named Wendell, looks over the newborn like a proud uncle.

High Wire has kangaroos, a tortoise, a camel and other animals. This is the first zeedonk at the farm and likely the first zeedonk in Woodbury.

The animal will grow to about the size of her mother. 

While these crosses aren't unusual in captivity, Hardisty is hoping Sassy's next mate will be a fellow zebra.

"It's not like a horse where you can bring it and get it bred and take it home; it's a little tougher than that," Hardisty said.

If you'd like to see the zeedonk yourself, the farm is open Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m, weather permitting during the month of August.

Highwire is located at 66 Park Road. The phone number is located at 203-263-4522.