|
Wednesday, 23 May 2007 |
|
Vizzitnewforest.com
has secured the first ever photos of all four of the very rare Poitou Donkey
foals together following worldwide media attention on the birth of the first
three at Woodford Farm in Lymington during early May.
Baby 'Tizer' was born on Thursday 17th May and
immediately entered modern history books as the foals which are rarer than the
giant pandas became the first ever Poitou donkey foursome born together in
recent times. These are the first pictures of all four together.
Woodford Farm closes to
public
Woodford Farm has closed to the public due to intense media
interest and the subsequent desire by the public to see the rare foals. The
foals have been featured on ABC News in America, on Canadian, German and UK TV
and numerous radio and press reports throughout the UK and Europe. One family
even arrived from Germany unannounced to see the foals. Annie Pollock who runs
Woodford Farm says "we have to keep the interests of the foals and their mums at
heart, and right now they just need to be left alone".
|
Rarer
than the Giant Panda
Poitou donkeys are little heard of, but they
are adorable hairy 'mammoth' animals with winter dreadlock coats.
By 1978 world numbers of the Poitou donkeys were
down to just 48 recorded animals, but with a managed breeding programme numbers
have recovered to around 600 worlwide, with only 40 in the UK. Last year only
two foals were born in Britain, both at Woodford Farm, where they are now
enjoying life as hairy 'mammoth' yearlings.
Woodford Farm is already celebrating recovery
success, and the potential for more births remains high. Woodford Farm is the
only breeding centre located in the UK and one of only a handful worldwide.
|
|
