OMG, those ears! Those spindly legs! Visitors to the Marwell Zoo in Colden Common near Winchester had an unusual experience, to say the least. On October 12th, first time mother Ellen, gave birth to a healthy foal in front of a crowd.

“Zebra normally like to do their own thing and take themselves away, so giving birth in the middle of the afternoon in front of a crowd of guests isn’t common. But she wasn’t concerned by the interest and it was a very smooth delivery with the healthy foal arriving in around half an hour,

“The foal is enjoying exploring, though is still staying close to its mother, who is the dominant female of the herd and is being very protective.”

Hoofstock Team Leader Tim Rowlands.

The Grevy’s zebra is one of Africa’s rarest large mammals with fewer than 3000 individuals left in the wild. They are found in small and isolated areas in Northern Kenya and Ethiopia. With the birth of the yet-unnamed foal, the Marwell Zoo now has six Grevy’s Zebras.

Grevy’s Zebras, also known as Imperial Zebras, are the largest of all the wild equids. The Grevy’s are more closely related to the wild ass than the horse, while the plains zebra is more closely related to the horse. Grevy’s also are taller, have larger ears, and have narrower stripes than plains zebras. The Grevy’s zebra is well adapted to harsh conditions and only needs to drink every two to five days.