THE new addition to Chester Zoo's herd of endangered zebras caught visitors by surprise when it was born in front of them.
After her 14-month-long gestation, zookeepers spotted Grevy zebra Nadine was showing signs of labour early on Sunday afternoon.
They carefully-monitored the momentous event from a distance and Nadine gave birth after 40 minutes, in front of astounded onlookers.
The foal, born to mum and dad, Mac, became the second to be born at the zoo in the space of just six days.
The new-born Grevy's zebra foal with mum Nadine
Video footage, taken by a visitor, shows Nadine rolling around on her side before getting to her feet and starting to deliver the youngster.
The new-born Grevy's zebra foal
Kim Wood, assistant team manager at the zoo, said: "Nadine gave birth in the middle of the afternoon in front of a group of some pretty amazed visitors.
"At first Nadine was seen lying on her side trying to make herself more comfortable as she began to feel what was about to happen.
"She then got to her feet and picked her spot in the paddock and a healthy youngster appeared less than an hour later.
"It was a really smooth delivery.
"The foal is looking great and, with it being the second to be born here in the space of just a week, we're sure the two new arrivals will be as thick as thieves."
The new-born Grevy's zebra foal
The Grevy's zebra is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – their numbers having dropped by more than 85% over the last 30 years.
Conservationists estimate that as few as 1,900 Grevy's zebra could now be left in the wild and attribute their decline to a range of factors including a reduction of water sources, habitat loss, hunting and disease.
They are the largest of the world’s three zebra species and are now found only in isolated populations in Ethiopia and Northern Kenya.
At the zoo, Nadine’s new arrival increases the number of Grevy's zebra in the herd to six.
Keepers are yet to choose a name for the new arrival as they have not yet been able to determine the sex of new arrival.
Grevy zebra facts
- Scientific name: Equus grevyi
- The foal was born on Sunday afternoon (August 21) to mum, Nadine and dad, Mac
- The Grevy's zebra is also known as the imperial zebra - the largest species in the Equidae (horse) family
- Today, the species is only found in small and isolated populations in Ethiopia and Northern Kenya
- Current estimates put the total population of Grevy's Zebra remaining in the wild at approximately 1,966 to 2,447
- According to the African Wildlife Foundation, there are half as many of these zebras today as there were just 20 years ago
- Of the world's remaining three species of zebra, the Grevy's zebra is the largest and also the most endangered in the wild.
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