CAPE MAY COURTHOUSE - The Cape May County Zoo has welcomed a new addition to the Grant’s zebra herd - a female foal born to parents Gretta and Ziggy.
The foal is Gretta's third, and the second foal sired by Ziggy this year. The zoo previously announced the birth of a male zebra to parents Lydia and Ziggy on May 21. The zoo said the new female foal has been successfully integrated with the herd.
Foals are up and walking within hours of being born, and the public will be able to see the siblings playing and running together. You’ll be able to tell them apart because the female has a small spot on her left cheek.
Grant’s zebras are a subspecies of Plains zebra and are endemic to central and eastern Africa. Plains zebras will synchronize their breeding and birthing cycles, which increases foal survival in the wild. Plains zebra herds usually consist of a single male (stallion) with several females (mares) and their offspring. Zebra herd dynamics can be complicated with all individuals communicating and responding to body postures, movements, and other signals.
“With summer in full swing, the timing couldn’t be better for Zoo visitors. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a day taking in all the Zoo has to offer, and now, there’s the added delight of welcoming a new member to our growing Zoo family,” Cape May County Commission Vice Director Andrew Bulakowski said in the release.
The Zoo is open daily, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, donations are appreciated.
