Reid Park Zoo is welcoming a notable new addition.
Anna, one of the Zoo’s female Grevy’s zebras, gave birth to a female foal at approximately 1:20 a.m. on July 8, 2025, sired by the Zoo’s male zebra, Ben. The yet-to-be named foal was standing up and walking shortly after birth. She is healthy, nursing well, and bonding with her very attentive and nurturing mom.
The young female is already showing off her feisty personality by chasing the wild ducks in the habitat, playing in the sprinklers and zooming around while mom tries to keep up with all the foal’s energy.
Grevy’s zebras are highly endangered with the current wild population estimated to be less than 3,000 individuals. Reid Park Zoo participates in the Grevy’s Zebra Species Survival Plan, a cooperative effort among zoos to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population with the goal of helping to sustain this vanishing species.
“We are overjoyed with the arrival of this precious and significant new addition for this most endangered of all zebra species” said Adam Ramsey, the Zoo’s Director of Animal Care. “I’m proud of our veterinary and animal care teams who have worked tirelessly to provide Anna with the exceptional care necessary for a healthy delivery and to give this new little one the foundation she needs to thrive. I am also appreciative of the hard work our professional maintenance team has done in preparing for this birth, making modifications behind the scenes and to the habitat. This is a significant and welcome birth for the species — important in helping prevent Grevy’s zebra from becoming extinct.”
Zebra foals are delicate newborns, and staff are monitoring Anna and her baby closely due to the high infant mortality rate with this species, both in the wild and in human care. In addition to the close monitoring, the care team will continue with resilience training for the new foal and the rest of the herd. Resilience training is a program that fosters comfort with changing environments so that unexpected changes aren’t as alarming to zebras, which, like many hoofstock, tend to be easily startled.
“Each birth at the Zoo is a testament to the dedication and experience of our team and our commitment to the conservation of endangered species,” adds Ramsey. “We still hear great reports of Haroo, a male foal born at the Zoo four years ago, who is fulfilling an important role as a breeding stallion for his own herd at another zoological facility.”
Anna and the foal may, at times, be behind-the-scenes. Guests who are hoping to see mom and baby will have their best chance to spot them in the mornings.
