Grevy’s Zebra

The next time you’re at Lincoln Park Zoo, stop by the Camel & Zebra Area and see if you can get a glimpse of our newest arrival: a female zebra foal!

In the early hours of August 21, 16-year-old Adia gave birth to a healthy newborn and both are doing well. The young zebra weighed just over 105 pounds at birth and was able to run an hour later.

Adia’s pregnancy, confirmed earlier this year through hormone analysis, resulted in Adia’s fifth offspring and the third with sire Wester. The birth is part of the Grevy’s Zebra Species Survival Plan®, a collaborative effort between Association of Zoos and Aquariums institutions to manage zoo populations.

Grevy’s zebras have a 390-day gestation period—the longest of any equid species. A young zebra will be dependent on its mother for the first seven months of life and nurse for about nine months.

This event is an important one for the population under human care, since Grevy’s zebras are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. At last count, fewer than 2,000 individuals remained in the wild. Threats they face include habitat loss and competition with livestock.

“It’s amazing to see the population of these endangered zebras continue to grow,” said Curator Dan Boehm. “Mom and foal are hitting all of their postpartum milestones and the newborn is quite spirited and very active.”

The foal is easy to spot, since she has reddish-brown stripes that will turn black as she is older. She is out in the habitat with three other zebras—mom, dad, and an aunt—and will continue to be closely monitored by Animal Care and veterinary staff as she grows.

Those interested in helping care for mom and foal all year long may ADOPT a zebra at lpzoo.org/adopt or shop the Wish List at lpzoo.org/wish-list.