Everything is just so black and white
Thursday 26 September 2002
Whipsnade Wild Animal Park is celebrating again following the successful birth of a male Grevy's zebra, just over a month after another herd member in the group gave birth to a female foal
The male foal was born on 26 August 2002 to first time mother Paula, who was also born at Whipsnade in 1995. The father, Eburu, was born at Leipzig Zoo, Germany in 1996, and came to Whipsnade in 2000.
Nick Lindsay, Senior Curator for the Zoological Society of London, said "This is another great achievement for Whipsnade, coming so soon after the birth of the female in July, and Paula is proving to be a natural mother. It is wonderful to be able to see the two foals out together in the paddock with the adult herd and last years youngsters. The Grevy's zebra is endangered in the wild, but following our two births we are making a good step to their survival as part of an international breeding programme."
The Grevy's zebra, the larger of the three zebra species is mainly found in the semi arid grasslands of northern Kenya and Ethiopia and is listed as endangered by the IUCN red list. Its population has declined due to agriculture and poaching and currently there are estimated to be only 4000 remaining in the wild.
The new arrival is the 18th foal to be bred at Whipsnade. The successful birth is vitally important for the continued achievement of the co-ordinated international breeding programme for Grevy's zebra of which there are currently 650 individuals in zoos all over the world.
Notes to editors:
IUCN red list - The 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on types of animals and plants that have been evaluated using the 1994 IUCN Red List Categories. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those animals and plants that are facing a higher risk of global extinction (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable).
Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. ZSL runs London Zoo and Whipsnade Wild Animal Park, carries out scientific research in the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation in other countries worldwide.
For further information please contact the ZSL Press Office:
Leana Rochman
Tel: 020 7449 6361/07889 043843
Email: leana.rochman@zsl.org
Website: www.whipsnade.co.uk
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