New Arrival: Grevy’s Zebra

Stripes are “in”! Say hello to the zoo’s sweetest new style icon, a female zebra foal born to 19-year-old Adia on June 22. Both mom and newborn are meeting developmental milestones and continue to be closely monitored by Animal Care and Veterinary staff.

Adia’s pregnancy is the result of a Grevy’s Zebra Species Survival Plan® recommendation, designed by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums to help manage and sustain animal populations within zoos. This is Adia’s sixth offspring and her fourth with 15-year-old sire Wester.

As Grevy’s zebras are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation for Nature, this is an important birth. Fewer than 2,000 individuals remain in the species’ native range in Kenya and Ethiopia, and this zebra species experiences threats from habitat loss, competition with livestock, disease transmission, and local hunting.

Grevy’s zebras are the largest of the three main zebra species, with a height up to 5 feet tall at the shoulder and a weight up to 950 pounds. Their stripes are thicker than that of other zebras. Grevy’s zebras have good eyesight and thickly enameled teeth for eating tough grasses. They spend around 60% of their day grazing.

Like other zebras, Grevy’s zebras do not form permanent herds, but females with offspring may be found together. Males form small bachelor herds that may protect large territories. Females have a gestation period of 390 days, the longest of any equid species, and prefer to be alone when giving birth.

The foal will nurse for about nine months. Females become independent at 13–18 months, while males might stay with their mothers for three years. Females reach maturity at 3 years old, while males do so at 6 years old.

The young zebra is easy to spot in her habitat in the zoo’s South Loop, which she shares with mom, older sister Yabelo (who is now 2 years old), and female adult Delrie. Along with her smaller size, the foal can be distinguished from the others by reddish-brown stripes that will turn black as she matures.

Want to support this new addition’s care? Adopt a zebra today at lpzoo.org/adopt. And check out the video below: