Franklin Park Zoo announces birth of baby zebra

The new week-old foal is “bright and alert,” the Franklin Park Zoo said.

The baby foal stands in the Zebra enclosure. She is just one week old. Noah Brown, Franklin Park Zoo

What’s black, white, and adorable all over? Franklin Park Zoo’s new baby zebra! The Hartmann’s mountain zebra foal was born on Sept. 4 is in good health, according to the zoo.

A statement from Franklin Park Zoo describes the 87-pound foal as “bright and alert.” She’s the second zebra foal born since spring, the zoo said. The first foal, Keanu, was born in April. Zoo caretakers saw Keanu notice and observe his new pal while she settled in.

“Anytime a new foal is born, it’s a reason to celebrate, and we are so happy that guests will have the opportunity to watch this foal grow up,” said Chris Bartos, an assistant curator at Franklin Park Zoo.

The foal with her mother, Zoey. – Noah Brown, Franklin Park Zoo.

The zoo said the foal’s mother, Zoey, is being very protective over her week-old baby, but caretakers hope to see the foal adjust well to her new environment.

“Watching Zoey introduce her foal to her outdoor habitat has been a heartwarming experience for our staff,” Bartos said. “She is an attentive mother who is taking great care in making her foal feel safe and protected.”

The Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra is native to southern parts of Africa. There are fewer than 25,000 of them left in the wild, classifying them as a vulnerable species.

You can see the foal in the zoo’s Serengeti Crossing habitat.