Women Rescues Baby Zonkey From Being Sold To Trophy Hunters

Clare Staples went to a Texas auction looking to rescue horses—but instead, she found someone she simply couldn’t leave behind.

Standing alone with an auction sticker on his tiny body was Zebedee, a rare baby zonkey—a cross between a zebra and a donkey. Just a few weeks old, he had already been separated from his mother and was about to be sold into a life where he would eventually become a trophy-hunting target.

The baby animal touched Clare’s heart. As founder and president of Skydog Ranch, she was able to mobilize an effort to save him and by a “miracle” they did.

At Skydog Ranch, Zebedee was welcomed by Mabel, a rescued donkey, and Snowball, a one-eyed miniature pony. The unlikely trio bonded instantly, with Mabel taking on the role of his surrogate mom while caregivers bottle-fed him around the clock.

Before long, the frightened little baby transformed into a happy, playful youngster. The day he got the zoomies for the first time—racing joyful circles around his new family—was proof that his life had completely changed.

Instead of growing up in fear, Zebedee will now spend his days surrounded by love, friendship, and the freedom every animal deserves.