A farmer woke up a couple of days ago to the sweetest surprise waiting for her in the barn – her donkey had an adorable baby! But this baby, who was named Fern, is missing something: her eyes.
TikToker @therealwalterbasset shared the video on TikTok, introducing us all to the cutest baby donkey ever. When you watch the video, you’ll notice that Fern appears to have eyes, is blinking them, and seems to be looking around. This started quite a conversation in the video’s comment section!
What a fun new gift to wake up to! Donkeys are usually so loud that I’m surprised the farmer didn’t hear her braying throughout the night. I love how close the adorable baby is sticking to mom and can’t wait to watch Fern grow!
Does Donkey the Fern Have Eyes?
Commenters felt like Therealwalterbasset was trying to hoodwink them since it really looks like the tiny donkey’s eyes are just fine. @MelissaLessig102072 got close to 2,500 likes when she said, “That baby has eyes. I saw them, she was blinking them.” @Marty Corkins agreed, “That baby has both eyes and can see! SMH…”
@jessss775 was the voice of reason, “Eyes or no eyes, the baby is absolutely precious and I’m completely jealous!!!!”
Viewer @taranormal shared, “Microopthalmia! I’m an equine vet tech, and we’ve seen a few cases! Actually, not a death sentence if you’re willing to make accommodations.” @Whoisthat? added, “Anopthalmia is fascinating. She will be extraordinary! She has no idea she is blind. You will be amazed at what she will accomplish as she grows!”
While rare, this is exactly what happened to Fern. The National Institute of Health explains, “Microphthalmia, a rare disorder where children are born with a small, underdeveloped eye, can be caused by genetic changes or environmental variations during pregnancy. In donkeys, microphthalmia is also a rare condition, with some cases characterized by unilateral or bilateral ocular involvement.”
Because the baby donkey’s human mom received so much pushback and disbelief about the baby, she posted another video, explaining what was wrong with Fern and giving everybody a closer look at her eyes. Eyes or no eyes, Fern is one cute baby donkey!
