A baby zebra made her debut at the Cape May County Zoo on April 22. The female foal, born to Lydia and Ziggy, has already become a delightful addition to the zoo’s herd or dazzle.
The as-yet named baby has joined her mother and father outside in their habitat. Visitors can see her playing in the yard alongside her Aunt Gracie. The foal’s two older sisters, Stormy and Stardust, are temporarily in a separate paddock until the foal is stronger and more secure and can tolerate playing together.
“We are excited to announce the addition of a zebra foal to the herd at the County Zoo. With her arrival, the total number of zebra in our exhibit now stands at six. Visitors can expect to see her and her family up close as they explore the zoo’s Savanna area. Mom and baby are doing fine, and the zoo staff is anxious to show her off to the public,” said Cape May County Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski, liaison to the Parks and Zoo.
The zebras at the Cape May County Zoo are Grant’s zebras, a subspecies of the Plains zebras and are smaller in size.
They are the most common and geographically widespread species of zebra found in east and southern Africa. They live in treeless grasslands and savanna woodlands. They are herbivores with high-crowned teeth that allows them to eat coarser short grasses and other vegetation.
“The Zoo is a great attraction that serves to educate and entertain our residents and visitors. I encourage everyone to visit the zoo to see this new addition. The zoo plans to hold a naming contest for the new foal. Visitors can participate and help choose a fitting name for her,” Bulakowski said.
The lifespan of a zebra in captivity is around 40 years. In the wild, the lifespan is up to 20 years. Gestation is about 345-390 days or about 13 months. Nearly 50 percent of foals born in the wild are lost to predation. Foals can run within one hour after birth, according to a county news release.
The Cape May County Parks and Zoo are free to the public. The parks are open from 7 a.m. until dusk daily. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. daily. For more information about the zoo, go to cmczoo.com.
