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Staff at West Midland Safari Park are celebrating the arrival of the attraction’s first ever baby Grévy’s zebra…

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The bundle of stripes was born to first-time-mum Akuna, and Vicky Barsham, African Ungulates Keeper at the park, says: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome our first ever baby Grévy’s zebra. Akuna is already proving to be a very attentive and caring mother. The foal is doing really well – it's very active, enjoying dust baths and running around the safari.

“West Midland Safari Park is very pleased to be taking part in such an important conservation breeding programme. In the wild, the recent ‘Great Grévy Rally’ showed that although there is an increased number of Grévy’s zebra in Kenya, there still remains only 2,800 individuals.”

Although the foal is yet to be named, keepers will be choosing a name beginning with ‘G’, as all babies born at the Park in 2018 will begin with this letter. The foal joins the herd of three Grévy’s zebra at the Park – mum Akuna, female Montana and proud father Quigley – who is also a first-time-dad. The new addition is a great success to the Park’s European Endangered Species Programme, a breeding initiative of endangered species in association with the European Association of Zoo and Aquaria.

Although there have been recent successes in the conservation of Grévy’s zebra, this particular species of zebra is classified as ‘Endangered’ in the wild – the second highest threat level a living species can be.

Later this summer, the park will be dedicating a week to raising awareness for this magnificent species. Running from 18-24 August, Grévy’s Zebra Week will be fundraising for Grévy’s Zebra Trust, who work with communities in Kenya and Ethiopia to engage them in wildlife protection.

The herd of Grévy’s zebra can be seen in the four-mile Safari Drive-through included in the groups admission charge of £10.50 for adults, £9.50 for children aged 3-15 and £10.00 for concessions. Children under the age of three years are admitted free of charge. Adventure Theme Park rides are charged extra.

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To find out more call 01299 400700.

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