A Little Star in Stripes: Reid Park Zoo Welcomes Birth of Grevy’s Zebra Foal on July 4th
New Birth a Big Win for Endangered Species
We are thrilled to announce a celebrated and “striping” new addition to our family. Anna, a Grevy’s zebra, gave birth to a male foal on July 4th. The foal was standing and nursing within an hour of his arrival, and both mom and baby are doing well.
Seven-year-old Anna and her mate Ben, who is 18, are both first-time parents. The pair came to Reid Park Zoo last spring thanks to a breeding recommendation as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. It was love at first stripe with Anna and Ben demonstrating breeding behavior shortly after their introduction.
“We are excited about the foal’s arrival, as he adds to the other African species born this spring at the Zoo including our 5 meerkat pups and elephant
calf, Penzi,” said Dr. Sue Tygielski, Director of Zoo Operations. “It is fascinating to watch each mother and how they manage their offspring. Anna is a patient and attentive mom,” said Tygielski. The foal is beginning to have bursts where he runs a few steps but Anna is always nearby to watch him.
Grevy’s zebras are the largest zebra species. Every zebra has its own unique stripe pattern with no two patterns the same. As part of its survival in the wild, a newborn foal quickly learns to recognize his mother by identifying her distinctive stripe pattern, as well as through sight, sound and smell. Grevy’s zebras are an endangered species whose population in the wild has dropped significantly over the last 40 years, with fewer than 2,000 Grevy’s zebras remaining in Africa today.
Well-wishers can celebrate the birth of the new foal by taking action to support his wild counterparts. The choices we make today can have a big impact on the survival of the species. Supporting renewable energy sources like solar and reducing the amount we drive are actions we can take to reduce our carbon footprint and impact on species, like Grevy’s zebra.