A year ago, C.W. and Kim Wathen were moving into their new home.
C.W. noticed their donkey, Sarah, was in labor. He ran to the house and the two franticly searched through the boxes of their belongings trying to find a flashlight and came up with only a lighter.
By the time C.W. Wathen found a flashlight and made it back out to the field where Sarah was giving birth, it was over.
"He shined that flashlight on that thing and he said he didn't even know what to think. Of course, we didn't even know what to call it," Kim said.
Sarah had given birth to a very special animal, a zebra-donkey hybrid, appropriately called a zedonk.
"Scientists just say it shouldn't occur. We've had veterinarians come out and they're just so curious about her because it just shouldn't have happened," Kim said.
The zedonk, named Pippi, after the children's book character, Pippi Longstocking, celebrated her first birthday Thursday at the Chestatee Wildlife Preserve. The celebration continues through today, with cake for everyone who comes to wish Pippi a happy birthday.
Pippi received international attention as the only zedonk with a donkey mother and a zebra father since 1936. The news of her birth made headlines on several media outlets and continues to draw crowds from around the world.
"We've had people come back from Japan and we had some people from France who were here a couple weeks after she was born, a lot of international attention, and of course Georgians and Florida people, too," C.W. said.
Pippi is a favorite among people and animals alike. Her best friends are a 37-year-old miniature donkey named Peewee and a Longhorn calf named Chester.
"She herds all the other animals. Anyone she's in a pasture with she wants to in her group," C.W. said.
"Anything we put her in with, she gets along with. She's got a very likable personality and she loves children."
When Pippi is separated from her friends and family, she calls to them in a unique voice that isn't exactly zebra or donkey. Kim said it's as if she has her own language.
"The big question is how Sarah the donkey understood Pippi when she was little because they don't speak the same, but Sarah's a good mom," Kim said.
Pippi is being weaned from Sarah and the two have had to be separated at times. One night, the Wathens left to go to dinner. When they came back, Pippi and Sarah were gone. They looked everywhere for the mother and daughter.
"She and Pippi broke out and went over to see Zeek, the daddy," Kim said, laughing.
Kim affectionately calls Pippi "sassy pants," and Pippi's it is easy to see why.
"She lets us do things with her. Sometimes she's just real spunky and she'll just run and kick up in the air," Kim said. "It's the funniest thing; she gets frisky."
Pippi's status as the only zedonk could change very soon. Sarah the donkey is expecting again and Pippi will have a little brother or sister. The Wathens aren't sure if Zeek is the father, but they can't wait to find out.