Zebra Foal Welcomed at Monarto Safari Park

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: May 28, 2021 2:55 am

The zebra foal which has been born at Monarto Safari Park in the new Wild Africa precinct

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

Monarto Safari Park have celebrated the birth of a zebra foal, one of the first births in their new Wild Africa precinct which is currently under construction. Experienced mother Kali gave birth to her foal last week and since then has been seen trotting alongside mom in the 180-acre exhibit.

Monarto Safari Park keeper Alice Hardstaff said the addition of a new foal is great news for the herd. “Kali’s foal is settling in quickly which shows how comfortable the herd are since their move to the new exhibit in March,” says Alice.

“It will be thrilling to look around this exhibit and see it teaming with even more animals in future, and this foal is hopefully just the first in a long line of stripy new additions.”

The zebra foal with mom which has been born at Monarto Safari Park in the new Wild Africa precinct

Photo Credit: Zoos SA

Keepers believe that the foal is a female but are currently keeping an eye out to confirm this. As yet Kali has been doing a great job to keep her baby at a distance.

Currently the zebra herd is off-display in the first stage of the Wild Africa development. Here they live in the first reserve Etosha which is named after Etosha National Park in Namibia. Here the herd of eight zebra live alongside eland, scimitar horned oryx, blackbuck, waterbuck and ostriches.

In total the Wild Africa area will cover 550 hectares (1,400 acres) and provide homes for giraffe, bongo, nyala, hippo and southern white rhino in addition to the animals currently on display.

Visitors will be able to explore Wild Africa at the park as early at 2022.

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While often considered common the zebra is sadly classified as near-threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Threats to their survival include livestock farming, ranching, hunting, trapping, drought and civil unrest.

At Monarto Safari Park the zebra herds are part of a insurance population to ensure a reserve of genetically healthy individuals remain. They also provide a chance for the public to form a connection with wildlife.