Grevy's Zebra Born At Living Desert

The Living Desert's youngest Grevy's Zebra mare has given birth to a foal, the zoo announced today.

The female was born May 17 and weighed 108 pounds, according to Stacey Johnson, Living Desert's President and CEO.

"This is the ninth Grevy's zebra foal born at The Living Desert," Johnson said in a statement. "We are thrilled to continue our tradition of success with this charismatic species."

Grevy's zebras are endangered in the wild and only can only be found in Somalia, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea.  Their population in the wild is very low at around 2,000.

According to curator of animals Liz Hile, Grevy's zebras are black skinned with white stripes.

"While predators may be confused, it's thought that zebras can identify each other from their particular stripe patterns," Hile said.

She said when foals are born mothers stand between the foal and the rest of the herd for up to 20 minutes until "the newborn has imprinted on the dam's pattern."

"This ensures that the foal will stay with its mother and not stray to another zebra that is not lactating."

The Living Desert is a participant in the Grevy's Zebra Species Survival Plan, which promotes genetic diversity within the captive population and acts as a safeguard to wild population, according to a news release.

Of the 185 Grevy's zebras in U.S. zoos and preserves, the Living Desert houses three mares, one stallion and the newborn filly.