KWS Rescues Endangered Zebra Which Lost Its Mother After Birth [PHOTOS]

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers from the Northern Kenya Mobile Vet Unit on Monday, January 22 rescued the orphaned foal of a Grevy's zebra, the most threatened of the three species of zebra.

In a statement, KWS revealed that the foal was rescued after it was found suckling on its mother's carcass.

The mother was revealed to have succumbed to postpartum complications shortly after giving birth to the foal.

"Yesterday, KWS Northern Kenya Mobile Vet Unit rescued an infant Grevy's zebra foal in Lengardae, Samburu.

An infant Grevy's Zebra rescued by KWS officers on January 22, 2024. /KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE

"The heart-warming rescue took place as the orphaned foal was discovered desperately suckling on its mother's carcass, who had tragically succumbed to postpartum complications," KWS stated in part.

The dedicated team from the wildlife service acted swiftly to secure the vulnerable foal and took it to Reteti Animal Rescue Centre.

"This successful rescue not only saved the foal but also emphasizes the critical role that the communities play in wildlife conservation and protection ensuring a legacy of thriving biodiversity for generations to come," KWS further explained.

Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), also known as the imperial zebra, is the largest living wild equid and the most threatened of the three species of zebra, the other two being the plains zebra and the mountain zebra. Named after Jules Grévy, it is found in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia.

Superficially, Grévy's zebras' physical features can help to identify it from the other zebra species; their overall appearance is slightly closer to that of a mule, compared to the more "equine" (horse) appearance of the plains and mountain zebras.

Compared to other zebra species, Grévy's are the tallest; they have mule-like, larger ears, and have the tightest stripes of all zebras. They have distinctively erect manes, and more slender snouts.

The Grévy's zebra live in semi-arid savanna, where they feed on grasses, legumes, and browse, such as acacia; they can survive up to five days without water.

They differ from the other zebra species in that they do not live in a harem, and they maintain few long-lasting social bonds. Stallion territoriality and mother–fetal relationships form the basis of the social system of the Grévy's zebra.

Despite a handful of zoos and animal parks around the world having had successful captive-breeding programs, in its native home this zebra is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered.

Its population has declined from 15,000 to 2,000 since the 1970s. In 2016, the population was reported to be "stable"; however, as of 2020, the wild numbers are still estimated at only around 2,250 animals, in part due to anthrax outbreaks in eastern Africa.

An infant Grevy's Zebra suckling on its mother's carcass in Samburu when it was rescued by KWS officers on January 22, 2024. /KENYA WILDLIFE SERVICE