Controversy erupts over ‘impossible’ detail in property listing

A US property listing has sparked a heated discussion thanks to an unusual animal in the garden. 

In a field outside the California farmhouse are three zebras. 

It’s a bizarre sight given the animals are typically found about 16,000 kilometres away in southern Africa. 

Househunters online instantly assumed the photo was AI generated.

“The listing says nothing of zebras, only that there is a ton of grazing land with elk and wild boar so … what do we think .. is the zebra AI?” someone asked on Reddit.

But in a surprise twist, it turns out there is a well-known herd of zebras along this part of the US west coast. 

“The zebras are real. I’ve driven past this property a couple times, they’re semi-famous over here,” one person commented. 

“I am surprised as you are, apparently [it’s] a real thing,” wrote someone else.

Local news reports confirm the existence of a family of zebras along Mattole Road near the northern California town of Petriola. 

Different stories circulate about the animals’ origins. 

Some people say the herd is owned by a fashion designer couple who got them from a zebra farm. 

There are also rumours the zebras are descended from the herd kept by media magnate Randolph Hearst in his personal zoo. 

The creatures – known locally as the Lost Coast Zebras – can be spotted frolicking in several listing photos.

And exotic wildlife is not the property’s only drawcard. 

Lost Coast Ocean Ranch boasts 788 acres of forests and grassland. 

There is also over a kilometre of private beachfront with surging waves and rockpools. 

The four-bedroom stone farmhouse was custom-built for the site. It features hand-carved local stone and glass dormer windows. 

The property is on the market for $US10,950,000 ($16.7 million).