Visitors at the Thornybush Game Reserve in South Africa witnessed a heartwarming scene as a newborn zebra stood up on its own and took its very first steps in life. According to the website "Latest Sightings," photographer Conrad Zeelie and other visitors at the reserve observed the birth of the young zebra. It took its first steps accompanied by its zebra mother and some nearby elephants.
Despite being born with slender limbs that made it difficult to maintain balance, the foal kept falling while attempting to stand. Throughout this, its mother stayed close, watching over and caring for it. Zeelie observed the zebra mother cleaning her baby's body as the foal tried standing multiple times before finally succeeding.
What surprised Zeelie was not only how quickly the newborn stood up, but also how soon it began to take its first steps. The little zebra then started moving forward with its mother, wobbling yet steadily gaining strength. All eyes were on the foal as it bravely confronted the challenges of jungle life just minutes after birth. The presence of several nearby elephants added an even more touching element to the scene.
Over the coming weeks, the foal will become familiar with the surrounding wildlife and the various threats it might face. The mother zebra appears well-prepared to guide her young through those first critical months and raise it safely.
Zebra Pregnancy and Early Life
The gestation period for female zebras is approximately 12 to 13 months. At birth, a foal can weigh up to 40 kilograms. In the first few hours after birth, the newborn zebra uses its mother's unique scent, stripe pattern, and vocalizations to identify her.
Within a herd, adult zebras look very similar to each other, but this is not the case for the foal. From the very beginning, a foal can distinguish which zebra is its mother. To the young zebra, the mother's scent, stripes, and calls are unique throughout the entire herd.
This early bond is extremely important because it helps the foal closely follow its mother and avoid getting lost within the group. The first year is the most dangerous period for zebra foals, as they face significant risks from predators and environmental challenges.
A strong herd, alert mothers, and quick reflexes are all crucial for the survival of the foals. Zebra foals grow quickly; by the time they are one year old, they are nearly the same size as their mothers. Around this age, they will start to live independently, although they usually remain within the herd.
Zebra Facts
National Geographic magazine points out that the stripe patterns of each zebra are unique, just like human fingerprints. The average lifespan of a wild zebra is about 25 years.
Zebras enjoy living in groups. Within a zebra herd, they tend to form smaller family units. These families usually consist of one stallion, several mares, and their offspring.
Zebras continuously migrate in search of fresh grass and water. Sometimes, they gather into large herds of thousands, migrating to better feeding grounds. They often migrate mixed with other herbivores, such as antelopes.
Zebras also groom each other by pulling out loose hairs. If you see two zebras standing very close and appearing to bite each other, don't worry—they are just grooming and removing each other's hair.
