Keepers at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo have welcomed a male Zebra foal born in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday 5 July 2016.

The foal has been named Khari meaning like a king in Swahili. He is the first offspring for mother, Neema and father Bwana. Neema was also born at the Zoo in 2011.

“We arrived to work in morning to find the new arrival in the night yards keeping close to his mother,” said Keeper, Carolene Magner. 

“We’d had a storm overnight so the foal was wet from the rain and like all new foals a little shaky on his feet, but in good health.”

Neema is a very calm and attentive mother and is displaying all the right maternal behaviours. Both mother and foal are bonding well together.

“The foal has been on exhibit since birth with the rest of the herd, to the delight of visitors during the school holidays,” said Carolene.

Neema and her foal have been staying close together on exhibit and have been enjoying a little gallop in the mornings.

 “We now have three generations of Zebra on exhibit and are expecting more foals later this year.”

Taronga Western Plains Zoo’s Zebra herd is now in a new home just next to the Elephants. This most recent arrival brings the total number in the breeding herd to eight.