Adorable Baby Makes Warm Weather Appearance

Enzi, an endangered Grevy’s zebra at the Detroit Zoo, doesn’t stray far from his mom, Elvira. He’s the second foal for Elvira and a male zebra, Z.Z. (Photo via Detroit Zoo Facebook page)

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With the arrival of warmer temperatures, one of the metro Detroit’s most anticipated New Year’s babies is making his first appearance.

Enzi, an endangered Grevy’s zebra foal born at the Detroit Zoo shortly after the ball dropped at midnight on Jan. 1, has been kept indoors during the frigid months since his birth, but is now venturing outside on days when the temperature reaches 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer.

Enzi, whose name means “era” or “reign” in Swahili, is the second foal born to mom and dad Elvira, 23, and Z.Z., 14. His birth brings the zoo’s zebra herd to five, and also includes Enzi’s full brother, Jimmy, 3, and a 12-year-old female, Zoe.

Scott Carter, chief of life sciences for the Detroit Zoological Society, says Enzi is “full of energy” and is behaving just as scientists hoped he would.

“Typical of zebra foals his age, he’s never far from his mom,” Carter said, noting that Elvira is an experienced mother, and is doing a great job raising her little one.”

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The Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest of the three zebra species, with adults weighing between 800 and 1,000 pounds.

Zebras are born with brown stripes that turn black as they mature. The striped pattern on each zebra is as unique as a fingerprint; no two are the same. The species is named after Jules Grevy, former president of the French Republic, who received the animal as a gift.

Enzi was born at 2:45 a.m. on New Year’s morning.