TWO Poitou donkey foals reared in Hampshire are up for sale to try to save the breed from extinction.

Tarka and Thomas, recently born along with others at Woodford Farm in Lymington, could cost thousands of pounds because they are so rare.

Retired veterinary surgeon and owner of the animals Annie Pollock, said: "We are primarily concerned with preserving the breed from extinction and as such we need more people to start breeding them, especially here in the UK. The birth of the four Poitou foals has generated a huge amount of interest worldwide about saving the Poitous.

"We have had approaches from a number of people interested in starting their own herds, who we will screen ardently to make sure they have the best interests of the breed at heart.

"That said, we would welcome new enquiries from other people interested in preserving this magnificent woolly mammoth' breed.'' Poitou donkeys are not cheap.

The foals Tarka and Thomas are being offered for sale along with five adult Poitous and a herd of Alpacas.

"We specialise in rare breeds and like to sell the Poitous in pairs if possible because they like each other's company. They are quite gregarious by nature,'' she explained.