Weighing just 14 kilograms and standing at knee height, a newly born colt has captured the hearts of staff at Sidmouth’s Donkey Sanctuary.
In fact, the miniature foal is so tiny it has taken the record for the smallest one to be born into the charity’s care.
Though unnamed, he has already made the sanctuary very much his home and regularly races around his paddock – keeping his proud mother on her hooves.
Vet Elena Barrio said: “As his mum is a miniature donkey he is one of the smallest foals we have ever had.
“[He is] about the size of a dog. To give you an idea, he’s about 14kg as opposed to about 50kg for an average thoroughbred horse foal.
“He’s such a beauty and so delicate - small but perfectly formed and healthy. No wonder his mum is so proud of him.”
The new addition is number 14 to be born at the sanctuary this year as the charity experiences a baby boom.
The number of foals born this year has already outstripped the whole of last year and more than double the figure for 2010, when just six were born.
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