No foaling around
Devon is doing its bit for a vulnerable species of zebra!
A new foal has been born at Paignton Zoo, increasing troubled Hartmann's mountain zebra numbers by one.
Proud parents Taru and Jabili are taking fond care of the little one. Mum Taru, who's 19, was also born at Paignton Zoo, but first-time dad, Jabali, just five, arrived in Devon from Blackpool Zoo in December 2019.
Lisa Britton, curator of mammals at Paignton Zoo said: “The Hartmann’s zebra is classed as vulnerable because its population is susceptible to decreasing, so this is a great achievement not only for Paignton Zoo, but for the species as a whole.”
A single foal is born after a gestation period of 364 to 391 days. The as-yet unnamed foal will remain with Taru and will be fully weaned by 10 months of age.
Paignton Zoo says humans are the biggest threat to zebra populations because of hunting and habitat destruction. Zebras are also threatened by droughts and other extreme weather conditions, loss of genetic diversity caused by inbreeding due to a small subpopulation, and competition with livestock for food.
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