Fort Worth Zoo announces birth of Grant’s zebra foal
The Fort Worth Zoo welcomed a male Grant’s zebra foal to the herd. At birth, the soon-to-be named foal weighed approximately 60 to 70 pounds and stood roughly 30 inches tall. When fully grown, he will weigh up to 650 to 750 pounds and measure about 44 inches from shoulder to hoof. This is the first foal for mom Roxie and the first zebra birth at the Fort Worth Zoo since 1996.
The Fort Worth Zoo houses Grant’s zebras, one of the six subspecies of plains zebra. Native to the African savannas, a zebra’s most distinguishing feature is its striking black-and-white-striped coat. Although the black and white lines on a zebra’s coat are easy for human eyes to spot, it is difficult for zebra predators, like lions, to differentiate the zebra’s striped pattern from the tall savanna grasses. Like human fingerprints, each zebra has its own set of stripes.
The new zebra and his parents are now on exhibit on the main path, next to other African hoofstock, lesser kudu and springbok. The zebra family will soon join several other species in the Zoo’s new African Savanna exhibit, scheduled to open in April. In the new exhibit, guests will see the zebras interacting and sharing a space with giraffe, lesser kudu, springbok, ostrich, hornbills and pink-backed pelicans.
The nationally acclaimed Fort Worth Zoo has been ranked the No. 4 zoo in the nation by USA Today, the Best Zoo in Texas by Yahoo Travel, the No. 5 zoo in the nation by USA Travel Guide, the No. 1 attraction in the DFW Metroplex by Zagat survey and a top 10 zoo or aquarium by FamilyFun magazine and TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards. The Zoo is home to more than 500 animal species and a world-famous reptile collection, housed in the Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The institution’s focus on education and conservation is second to none, enhancing the lives of more than 1 million visitors a year.
