SHARE
COPY LINK

FARMING

Göttingen’s “geep” is one-of-a-kind

Diederode, near the university town, boasts the world's only living sheep-goat hybrid, which is now the object of study by scientists.

Göttingen's “geep” is one-of-a-kind
Photo: DPA

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; }

Goats and sheep belong to the same sub-family of species, the Caprinae, but almost never produce offspring together.

Livestock researcher Professor Christoph Knorr of Göttingen University told Focus that a cross between the two species is an extremely rare case.

The animal in Diederode is the only one in the world which has been confirmed by scientists to be a true hybrid.

Sheep farmer Dirk Pieper called it “Dwarf” as it was so small, he told the Göttinger Tageblatt.

“It only listens to its name when it wants milk, though.”

Pieper noticed something different as soon as Dwarf was born in March this year.

“You can clearly see it's not a normal lamb,” he said. “The head looks more like a goat's, it's small and the ears are high up.” Dwarf's coat is more like goat hide than sheep's wool.

Pieper's goats and sheep spend the whole summer together and romantic trysts inevitably happen, but “it's never come to an end product before,” Pieper said.

The sheep farmer had to feed Dwarf with a bottle during his first few days as he was too weak to nurse.

"Now he's bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, jumping around and enjoying life.”

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

SHOW COMMENTS