Lonegan the wonky donkey on the mend

A rare miniature donkey twin born with severely deformed legs is having corrective treatment that may eventually enable him to stand on his own four feet.

Donkey twins Lonegan and Donegan were born at Willowdale Donkey Stud in Western Australia on March 29.

Owner and Perth donkey breeder Barbara Bracken said it was believed there were just four sets of miniature donkey twins in the world. “It’s very rare for twins to live,” she said. “Equines don’t carry twins, they either abort both at six months or give birth to one live and one stillborn.”



Even more unusual is Lonegan's deformity.

With the help of David Murphy, an associate professor at Murdoch University’s equine centre, casts were put on Lonegan’s legs to pull them a little straighter. These casts have now been replaced by splints which are changed daily.

“He’s doing really well,” said Ms Bracken. “Everything we do to him he just accepts, he’s an amazing little bloke.” Lonegan can now stand, walk and play, but without the leg splints he would be literally, on his “ass”.

There's more information, with photos, here.