A DONKEY gave birth to the largest foal ever born at a sanctuary near Penryn on Saturday.

The Flicka Foundation welcomed a new arrival to their herd when the long-legged baby boy was produced by Sophia, who was rescued by the charity only last month.

She was heavily pregnant and incredibly underweight when rescued, but her offspring is happy and healthy.

Judy Giles, director at The Flicka Foundation said: “We are over the moon with our new arrival. He is an absolutely beautiful boy, with incredibly long legs – he’s undoubtedly the largest foal ever born at Flicka.

"His mother, Sophia, is very underweight and will need lots of specialist attention and treatment to ensure she is healthy enough herself to care for her son.”

She added: “Sophia is already proving to be a very protective and devoted mother. Her tenderness caring for her foal is beautiful to see, and is in stark contrast to the cruelty that many of the rescued donkeys at our sanctuary have suffered; taken from their mothers far too young to be sold at live animal markets.”

In her late teens, Sophia has likely spent most of her life pregnant, breeding to fuel the meat trade in France and Italy.

She was rescued by The Flicka Foundation at the end of June, when she was heavily pregnant once again, she and her foal both destined for dinner plates on the continent.

Tired and depressed, Sophia is now being rehabilitated by the charity’s specialist team.

Tragically, Sophia will have had many foals all cruelly taken from her at a young age, but thanks to the work of the foundation, Sophia and her son will now be free to live out their lives together.

The charity doesn’t breed donkeys, for ethical and practical reasons, but, as was the case with Sophia, sometimes donkeys are already in foal when they arrive.

The Flicka Foundation’s supporters will have the opportunity to name the new arrival in a competition at www.justgiving.com/campaign/namethefoal.

The competition runs until Monday, July 29, when charity directors will choose a name from all the entries.

More information and updates on the donkeys and the charity’s work is available at ww.flickafoundation.org.uk and by following @TheFlickaFoundation on Facebook and @flickadonkeys on Twitter.

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