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“She has been very into the ducks in the habitat, and just loving life so far,� said Chelo Grubb, marketing and communications supervisor for Reid Park Zoological Society.

The Grevy’s zebra was born in the early morning hours of July 8 to mom Anna.

She is confident and sassy, said Julia Beres, animal care supervisor for Reid Park Zoo and one of the zebra’s caretakers.

“She’s been chasing the ducks down, and chasing squirrels,� Beres said. “She’s been jumping over a little log that’s in the habitat. So she is incredibly active, very curious, and a very confident little girl.�

While a new arrival at the zoo is always an exciting event, the zebra’s birth is extra special.

“She is certainly a delight to be around, and happy to be running and spending time with her mom, but more importantly, Grevy’s zebras are an endangered species, so every birth is so important,� Grubb said.

In the wild, Grevy’s zebras are estimated to number less than 3,000, and Reid Park Zoo’s zebra herd is part of a coordinated effort by a number of zoos and wildlife parks to ensure a healthy population.

“There are three different species of zebras, and Grevy’s are the largest, and most endangered,� Beres said. “We take part in something called the Species Survival Program collaboratively with other zoos, trying to make sure that Grevy zebras stick around for generations to come.�

In partnering with the species survival plan, she said Reid Park Zoo is helping to maintain the genetic diversity of the species.

The zoo is also committed to assisting in the conservation of wild zebra populations.

“Since one of the main threats to Grevy’s zebras is habitat loss due to pastoral activities, we also contribute some funds to the Zebra Conservation Trust,� Beres said.

Caring for a newborn zebra presents unique challenges, and the zoo has been preparing for months to make sure the herd and the habitat were ready for the foal.

“The entire first year of life for a zebra whether it’s in human care or in the wild is really a tenuous time because they’re young and still adjusting to their environment and Grevy’s zebras have incredibly strong flight instincts,� Beres said.

Three previous zebra foals died at Reid Park since 2014 as a result of accidental injuries, and Beres said the team is working on several different fronts to provide the safest environment for the new foal.

“One thing that we’ve been working on a lot with our older Grevy’s zebras — since baby is going to queue off of mom — is working on their resilience training,� she said. “We have been working with them on getting comfortable with changes and sudden noises.�

The goal is to desensitize the zebras to environmental stimuli and build their confidence in new or stressful situations.

Beres said the team is already seeing encouraging benefits from its work.

“Anna is much more comfortable bringing her foal over to us at the fence,� Beres said.

The zoo also modified the zebras’ behind-the-scenes area, making their stalls larger, and made other improvements to increase the safety of the habitat.

“We added a lot more substrate,� she said. “And that helps create a lot more traction. Especially because it’s monsoon season right now, we want to make sure that we are eliminating potential slips and falls.�

The keepers haven’t officially chosen a name for the new baby zebra, but, Beres said they are deciding between a couple of names, and hope to reveal the winning name to the public soon.

In the meantime, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ans can see her antics at the zoo. You’re most likely to see the foal and her mom in the habitat during the morning hours, Beres said.