Auckland City Council

Media release

23 September 2010

Auckland Zoo welcomes new baby zebra

Auckland Zoo is celebrating the birth of a healthy baby zebra  - born in the early hours of Tuesday morning to 18-year-old mum Itika and first-time dad, seven-year-old Machano.

On his feet and walking within the first 20 minutes of life, the energetic male foal weighs 36kg and is the fourth offspring of mum Itika. Both mum and foal have undergone vet checks and are in good health.

“Itika is doing exactly as she should – being very protective of her newborn, just as a zebra mum would in the wild. While you expect it, it’s incredible to witness just how quickly and strongly they bond, and impressive to see how lively this foal is. He’s absolutely full of energy; we think this stormy weather might have played a part,” says Auckland Zoo Pridelands team leader Nat Sullivan, who explains stormy weather in the wild is the perfect time for zebra to give birth as it helps disguise the smells of birth from predators.

The yet-to-be-named foal’s birth provides the Australasian region with valuable genetic stock for future breeding, and brings Auckland Zoo’s zebra herd to four. The herd will grow further next week with the arrival of two new zebra fillies from Hamilton Zoo.

Mother and foal will gradually be introduced to the rest of the zebra herd, and the giraffe and ostrich, with whom they share a home in the Zoo’s African precinct, Pridelands.

Ms Sullivan says it is likely that visitors will be able to see Itika and her foal out in Pridelands in the coming days, but they may only be on exhibit for short periods until they fully settle in.  Visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nzfor up-to-date information about the foal and its progress, and when she will be on display.

Ends

© Scoop Media