Single-Horned Deer Excites Fantasy Fans

Roe Deer Living In Rome, Nicknamed "Unicorn," Has Genetic Flaw, Giving Him Centered Horn

(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.

[dobbershome]

Doesn''t look real.

[simpsonman19]

The photo is an illustration, but I wish they would put up an actual picture!

[rf35]

So why the Photoshop job and not a pic of the real deer?

[demslie]

Its all Bush''s Fault and a Republican Conspiracy.

[extremophil]

Sometimes I get a single pimple on my butt. Fantasize about that, Italy.

[irliberal]

Its all Bush''''s Fault and a Republican Conspiracy.

Posted by demslie at 11:48 AM

If there were money or power in it, then Demslie would probably be right.

Since there''s not, it''s just demslie trolling again, as usual. Next!

[feelfreee4u]

"Most people don''t realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer."
-Jack Handey

[feelfreee4u]

Of course, this is Bush''s fault. Bush and Cheney went hunting in those very woods last month. They shot 2000 deer, but failed to kill this one. If they had, we wouldn''t be having to see this stupid story now. So, it''s Bush''s fault.

[feelfreee4u]

It''s symbolic of the single brain cell that Democrats have.

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

This could be part of a publicity stunt to help raise money for the Center of Natural Sciences in Prado, Italy.

In many Asian countries, powdered deer horn, or antlers, and the horns or antlers of many other animals, are considered medicinal, and in some cases very aphrodisiacal.

Deer shed their antlers/horns ever year.

Therefore, more than likely, this particular item will be ending up on a web auction site; and, the successful bidder will be a wealthy person living somewhere in an Asian country. lol

[uscitizenvet]

It couldn''t have been Bush and Cheney. If they had been hunting together, Cheney would have shot bush instead of a deer. Glad to see the Unicorn is making a come back.

[superdem]

Republican trolls can even make a story like this unpleasant with their unrelenting and nongermaine political attacks. They are just plain hateful. And probably Christians, too. Thou shalt not bear false witness, guys. That means don''t say stupid stuff that isn''t true. You won''t get raptured. Jesus isn''t laughing.

[blackyowe]

There are people who train goats horns to do this on purpose its no big deal.

[thisandthat1]

It''s only a matter of time before some idiot kills it and hangs it''s head over their fireplace!

[rushlimpdrug]

It is a sign from God.

I knew it.

Eternal damnation to all
who do not believe.

Bow down now!

Hey, I am healed.

(please send me your
tax deductible donation
and you too can be healed)

[zykracosmos]

"There are people who train goats horns..."
Posted by BlackYowe at 07:59 PM : Jun 11, 2008

Hmm. Training goats horns. Do you have to give them a treat, use a whip? How do you train a horn. Didn''t know horns had anything to think with to allow training myself.

[Latrocinor]

Hey, I am healed.

Posted by rushlimpdrug
.. .. ..

Sure you are Mr Johnson. Sure you are.

[hillary4us]

IT''S A SIGN! HILLARY WILL BE PRESIDENT!

[truthislife1]

Sure are a lot of Christian haters out there. Maybe you should do some research to figure out who the non-hypocritical non-counterfeit ones are before you lump them all together. Hypocrisy is a world problem, not a church problem. By the way, nice horn.

[l8c6]

So it wasn''t a fairy tale after all. Probably not the first Unicorn to walk the face of the earth.

[samthetvcat]

Ooh, he''s so cute!

[thericster1]

I don''t know why he needs that horn, he''s not going to be in heavy traffic!

[incog-nito]

This is surely a sign that the End of Days is near.

[terrorislami]

Posted by cneron at 03:19 AM : Jun 12, 2008

and fascist nazi terrorislam is the worst of the worst,,,

so much so, it is more like a satanic cult,,,

[truthislife1]

The human must be able to go beyond all the hatred, hypocrisy, lies, religion, and examine himself and wonder how is he in his body?