Animals
Rare zebra foal born in Nuremberg Zoo
Baby zebra Lumi was born on January 24, 2024. photo
© Daniel Löb/dpa
Only a few Grevy’s zebras still live in the wild. That’s why the Nuremberg Zoo is particularly proud of the foal that was recently born there. However, it won’t last long.
Distinctive black stripes, plush ears and long legs – a small Grevy’s zebra has recently been exploring the enclosure Nuremberg Zoo. At first the little stallion was a little wobbly on his legs, says animal keeper Oliver Pürkel.
But now he has developed well. Pürkel and his team named the little foal Lumi – after a river in East Africa that flows through the original range of the critically endangered zebra species.
Four Grevy’s zebras in the zoo
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Endangered Species, there are fewer than 2,000 specimens in the wild (as of 2016). Unlike the plains zebra, the most common zebra species, the Grevy’s zebra does not live in large herds, according to the zoo. The mares have a close bond with their offspring, the stallions are more solitary.
Four Grevy’s zebras now live with Lumi in the zoo: in addition to the foal born in mid-January, his mother Linda, his father George and the second mare Wamba. This was born in 2019 as the last foal in the zoo. Lumi integrated well into the group, says Pürkel. “Totally cool and in principle absolutely unproblematic.”
Lumi moves to another zoo
The foal drank well from the start, says the zookeeper. In addition to its mother’s milk, it also eats some hay like adults. However, the little stallion is not a daredevil. He’s just a zebra, says Pürkel. “He’s naturally curious, but cautious when something new comes along.”
When Lumi is about a year old, he will move to another zoo. Because then his father will see him as a competitor. According to the zoo, the European conservation breeding program, which also includes Grevy’s zebras, will decide which zoo will become its new home.