Britain’s rarest donkeys have been born – at staggering 10,000-to-1 odds.
The healthy twins named Eddie and Edith have been called a miracle by experts.
Their mother was rescued six months ago.
And in January her new owners Tina and Mark Boulcott discovered she was pregnant.
But unbeknown to them she was carrying a surprise extra package.
Routine check ups didn’t pick up the pregnancy.
Until the mare went into labour at Bunkers Hill Farm, Camrose, near Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, mid Wales, and a second foal soon followed the first.
Mark and Tina were stunned.
“Twin donkeys are very rare,” Mark said.
“Our vet couldn’t believe it.
“Neither could we.”
Andrew Clemence of Fishguard Veterinary Services said he had never before seen a twin donkey birth in his 43 year career adding it wasn’t something likely to be seen again.
“Twin pregnancies in donkeys are already rare and sadly many are reabsorbed or born weak,” he said.
“The odds of both twins surviving are only about 1-in-10,000.
“I have never seen it happen
“So it’s a once in a lifetime event.”
“Equines are generally designed to produce one foal,” he added.
“With donkeys about one per cent of matings produce twin embryos but the majority of these reabsorb one or both foetuses.
“In the rare event that twins reach term normally either one or both are unviable and either are stillborn or die quickly.”
A spokesperson for Fishguard Veterinary Services said: “Miracle alert.
“We’ve welcomed rare twin donkeys.
“We’re so grateful to have these two healthy foals.”
Both foals and their mum are doing well and they will live happily at Bunkers Hill Farm alongside other rescued animals including geese, emus, alpacas and horses as reported by What’s The Jam.
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