Have you ever heard of animal’s inter marriage ?
It’s rare to spot wild animals mingling with domestic ones, however one Zebra has broke all odds after finding new family.
The Zebra is living with donkeys in a habitat it has claimed for close to three years in the sleepy village of Kisiio, Mutomo sub-county, Kitui South.
At the foot of Yatta Plateau, we caught up with Mwende Masengo who has been feeding and watering the zebra nicknamed ‘Mwiitu’ (girl).
“The zebra came running and when it arrived where my three donkeys were tethered adjacent to my home it stopped and joined them,” Mwende said.
“We thought it was just passing but it stayed there feeding with the donkeys until night fell. It never left.”
Mwende said at first it drew much attention from the neighbours and passers-by.
“At first I had no peace, people would gossip around that it’s a ghost and I should be avoided. I lost many friends,” she said.
Mwende thought it would be dangerous to come close to the zebra. “But with time, it’s like it has been domesticated and learnt how to stay with people.
”The family has contacted Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) personnel but no action has been taken.“We notified KWS officers and all they did was take pictures.”
Mwende adds, “It’s expensive to keep this animal here when it’s feeding and getting watered with no benefit. Let KWS assist in domesticating it.”
The mare has not shown signs of mating with the donkeys.
The zebra also strays into private property sometimes destroying water pipes.The family has resorted to monitoring the zebra day and night against poachers.
However this is not the first case to be reported, some days back, a zebra was caught mating with a donkey after produced Zookey.