THEY are rarer than both white rhinos and giant pandas with only 600 examples left worldwide.

But a Hampshire farm is celebrating after three Poitou donkeys were born to three separate mothers during the space of one week.

Dubbed "woolly mammoth" donkeys due to their dreadlock-style winter coats and long woolly legs, the Baudet du Poitou is one of the most endangered species on the planet with only 50 born every year.

The breed nearly became extinct in 1978 when only 48 remained but numbers are currently estimated at between 500 and 600 worldwide.

The triple birth at Woodford Farm in Lymington is almost unheard of and has brought their numbers to 21 - the largest single collection in both the UK and Europe.

Annie Pollock, the farm's owner, who is aiming to bring the French breed back from the brink of extinction, said: "They are incredibly rare, only 40 in this country, but great fun and very, very affectionate.

"They are a lovely breed but if something happened to the French herd then they would be wiped out so they need foreign breeders like us.

"Last year there were only two born in the whole of the UK so to have three born in one week and a fourth on the way is incredible."

The three foals include females Tilda and Tarka and one male Tomas. A fourth Poitou foal is expected in two weeks.

The donkey was popular during the Second World War because of its strength.

With the arrival of motorised agriculture vehicles the Poitou quickly became redundant and hundreds were killed to feed post-war France.

It was only in 1977 that alarm bells started ringing of how few pure bred Poitou donkeys were left.

The farm is also home to other rare breeds of animals including miniature Mediterranean donkeys, alpacas and most recently seven Kune Kune piglets.