Holiday gift: Endangered zebra foal born on Christmas Day in Tucson zoo

Helen Rummel, Arizona Republic
Updated ·2 min read

On Christmas morning, the Reid Park Zoo welcomed a healthy newborn female Grevy’s zebra, whose species is the largest and most endangered of its kind.

“The foal is very steady on her feet and has been busy exploring her new home at mom’s side,” said Adam Ramsey, director of Animal Care at the Tucson zoo, in a Thursday news release.

There are fewer than 2,000 Grevy’s zebras left living in Africa. The species' population has decreased significantly over the last 40 years, according to the release.

Anna, an endangered Grevy's zebra, gave birth to a new healthy female foal at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2023.
Anna, an endangered Grevy's zebra, gave birth to a new healthy female foal at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, 2023.

The new baby zebra is the third for her mother, Anna, and father, Ben. The parents have breeding recommendations set by a Species Survival Plan to maintain the species’ population in a genetically stable and effective manner.

The zoo will soon host a contest to pick a name for the foal, which will be announced on social media.

For patrons hoping to catch a glimpse of the zoo’s newest addition, they are recommended to visit earlier in the morning. Zoo employees caution that Anna, Ben and their baby might be less visible over the coming weeks as the foal adapts.

According to the African Wildlife Foundation, baby Grevy’s zebras are born with reddish-brown stripes that develop over time. Baby Grevy's zebras can generally stand just six minutes after birth and are often able to run an hour later. Female foals typically stay with their mother for 13 to 18 months and typically live up to 12 to 13 years.

Wildlife officials report the Grevy's zebra is the largest of the species, with distinctive fuzzy ears and narrower stripes than the other zebra types. A Grevy's zebra can stand up to 5 feet tall and weigh as much as 700 to 1,000 pounds.

The species is named after a former French president, Jules Grévy, who received the distinctively black-and-white striped zebra as a gift in 1882 from the government of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia).

The Reid Park Zoo said those who wish to support the baby and its mother can do so by supporting environmental causes that will help the endangered Grevy’s zebra species by reducing their carbon footprint.

Republic reporter Mary Jo Pitzl contributed to this article.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Endangered zebra foal born on Christmas Day in Tucson at Reid Park Zoo