Reid Park Zoo welcomes baby zebra in shocking delivery
Web Producer: Taylor Avey
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A Zebra put on a surprising show at the Reid Park Zoo today when she gave birth unexpectedly.
Amira, a four-year-old Grevy's zebra gave brith to her first offspring in an unexpected delivery around 2:00 p.m. Friday at the Reid Park Zoo, according to Vivian VanPeenen, Curator of Education for the zoo.
"It was a surprise that she gave birth on exhibit today," says VanPeenen. "Most zebra's show a lot of signs right before giving birth, but she didn't."
The Grevy's zebra is an endangered species and Amira came to the Reid Park Zoo from the San Diego Zoo as part of the Species Survival Plan, which aims to provide conditions ideal for breeding.
Unbeknownst to zookeepers in Tucson, Amira was already pregnant when she came to the Reid Park Zoo earlier this year.
The sex of the new baby is still not known, and therefore, a name has not been selected.
VanPeenen says that so far everything with the baby zebra seems to be fine, but since this is Amira's first pregnancy, zookeepers are keeping a close eye on mom and baby and keeping both animals out of the public eye for now.
According to VanPeenen, baby zebras are born with stripes that are as unique as fingerprints.
Visitors will be able to track today's baby throughout his or her stay at the Reid Park Zoo simply by looking at her stripes.
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