Single-horned 'Unicorn' deer is found in Italy

[emmasi]

Single-horned 'Unicorn' deer is found in Italy

By MARTA FALCONI – 4 days ago

ROME (AP) — A deer with a single horn in the center of its head — much like the fabled, mythical unicorn — has been spotted in a nature preserve in Italy, park officials said Wednesday.

"This is fantasy becoming reality," Gilberto Tozzi, director of the Center of Natural Sciences in Prato, told The Associated Press. "The unicorn has always been a mythological animal."

The 1-year-old Roe Deer — nicknamed "Unicorn" — was born in captivity in the research center's park in the Tuscan town of Prato, near Florence, Tozzi said.

He is believed to have been born with a genetic flaw; his twin has two horns.

Calling it the first time he has seen such a case, Tozzi said such anomalies among deer may have inspired the myth of the unicorn.

The unicorn, a horse-like creature with magical healing powers, has appeared in legends and stories throughout history, from ancient and medieval texts to the adventures of Harry Potter.

"This shows that even in past times, there could have been animals with this anomaly," he said by telephone. "It's not like they dreamed it up."

Single-horned deer are rare but not unheard of — but even more unusual is the central positioning of the horn, experts said.

"Generally, the horn is on one side (of the head) rather than being at the center. This looks like a complex case," said Fulvio Fraticelli, scientific director of Rome's zoo. He said the position of the horn could also be the result of a trauma early in the animal's life.

Other mammals are believed to contribute to the myth of the unicorn, including the narwhal, a whale with a long, spiraling tusk.

Picture here: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gg9q1oD...LE90iAD9181I381

[jack+martha=trooluvv]

Interesting!

I read once about a narwhal tusk that was washed up and people thought it was a unicorn horn. That would have been in the 1800's.

[emmasi]

I'm counting it as having seen a "real" unicorn. You take miracles where you find them.

*Crosses it off list of things to do before I die.*

[Formerly Known as FKAJ]

Too bad it wasn't pink. And preferably invisible.

[emmasi]

Too bad it wasn't pink. And preferably invisible.

lol, I was wondering what you'd say about it. Clearly that isn't your deity of choice though, because it is neither pink nor invisible, and if it was invisible you wouldn't be able to see it, so you'll just have to have faith that your unicorn is standing behind my visible one.

[Ryan]

I liked The Last Unicorn when I was younger, but now the films been usurped. The Penultimate Unicorn doesn't have the same ring.

[emmasi]

I liked The Last Unicorn when I was younger, but now the films been usurped. The Penultimate Unicorn doesn't have the same ring.

She only thought she was the last because King Haggard had the Red Bull capture all the other unicorns and drive them into the sea, so it still works.

So what if I'm 23 and my favourite movie of all time is a 30 year old animation about a lonely unicorn ?

[Ryan]

I have this image in my head of all these unicorns getting stuck in a sugary drink now.

[emmasi]

My favourite movie... and yet, I went there too Damn advertising.

[Formerly Known as FKAJ]

Too bad it wasn't pink. And preferably invisible.

lol, I was wondering what you'd say about it. Clearly that isn't your deity of choice though, because it is neither pink nor invisible, and if it was invisible you wouldn't be able to see it, so you'll just have to have faith that your unicorn is standing behind my visible one.

Not the best quip I could have come up with, I admit that. But it was a unicorn so I had to get some reference in there.