Disappointment about Flumo: no cunning, but an ordinary sheep!

Disappointment about Flumo: no cunning, but an ordinary sheep!

in the tranquil Glücksburg, where the Flensburg Fjord becomes a otherwise quiet setting, the surprising examination of a newborn shaggy animal has ensured conversation. The little goat, which saw the light of day in mid -August, was initially suspected as a rare "cunning" - a hybrid form of sheep and goat. But the DNA analysis brought an unexpected turn: Flumo is ultimately an ordinary sheep, as the livestock researcher Clemens Falker-Gieske from the University of Göttingen confirmed.

"We are a bit disappointed that Flumo is now a sheep," said Falker-Gieske. The researchers had special hopes in Göttingen to be able to analyze another hybrid. This would have made it possible for you to expand your findings and to draw valuable scientific conclusions, since so far there was only one cunning from a similar case ten years ago. At that time, a sheep in the district of Göttingen gave birth to a mixed creature that caused a sensation in the media.

scientific knowledge and challenges

The biology of sheep and goats is complex. While both animals belong to the same subfamily, they differ considerably in their chromosome set - goats have 60 chromosomes, sheep only 54. This explains why reproduction between the two species is extremely difficult. The Göttingen researchers had hoped to analyze a second case with Flumo to validate their previous results, because research on hybrids is still shaped by limited data.

Falker-Gieske emphasizes that it would have been crucial for the scientists to investigate whether the process of creating a writer always follows the same genetic course. In addition, the question arose whether the autoimmune disease observed in the first hybrid may have been a consequence of its mixing origin. Flumo would have given scientists the opportunity to further research these hypotheses and collect relevant comparison data.

"Three individuals would have been optimal for our research," explains Falker-Gieske. The need for further cases to extract robust scientific results is evident, but the number of unreported cases remains hidden. It could well be that hybrids are occasionally born, but the majority of the population do not find out.

a mascot of certain charm

Despite the disappointment about Flumo's true origin, the little goat remains no less important for the rest of the courtyard and the events taking place there. Born during the flight mode festival, he received his sounding name as a homage to the celebrations. Dag, the owner of the courtyard, was disappointed, but believes that his relationship with Flumo will not change and that the little goat will continue to take on the role of the mascot of the festival. "I am not deeply sad, but I'm already disappointed," he said about the current situation.

flumo itself is a radiant being, with its white fur, sprinkled with brown spots. The billy goat Rune lives next to him, which now looks a little lonely, since the hope of a special playmate has burst. But the story about Flumo is far from over, it remains as a charming chapter for the festival and its visitors, even if scientific hopes have not been fulfilled in this case.

For further interesting information about the circumstances and developments related to Flumo, see the current reporting on www.shz.de .