CUTE ALERT: TORONTO ZOO WELCOMES BIRTH OF GREVY’S ZEBRA FOAL
#BabyStripes
Grevy’s Zebra mom ‘Tori’ with foal, Photo Credit: Toronto Zoo
FOR VIDEO OF MOM TORI AND HER FOAL:
TORONTO, ON, Tuesday, February 26, 2019: The Toronto Zoo is pleased to announce that Tori, an eight-year-old female Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi), gave birth to a male foal in the early morning hours on Wednesday, February 13, 2019. This birth is important for Grevy's zebra conservation as the species is currently listed as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species and the current global population is only 2,800.
This is the third foal Tori has given birth to at the Toronto Zoo, the first being, Leia, in January of 2014 and the second being, Rey, in July of 2016. All three foals have been sired by Jake, an 11-year-old male. Both mom and foal are doing well.
BABY STRIPES NEEDS A NAME!
Visit the Zoo’s Facebook page after 9:00am today and tell us which of the four name choices selected by the Toronto Zoo Zebra Keepers you like best:
“JJ” (Jake Jr. after dad Jake)
“TJ” (Tori Jr. after mom, or
representing mom and
dad Tori and Jake)
“Chewy” (in keeping with the Star Wars
themed names as previous zebra
babies were named Luke, Leia
and Rey)
“Obi” (another Star Wars inspired name)
The most popular name will be announced on Tuesday March 12th!
Grevy's zebras were first put on the IUCN list in 1986, after their population began to decline due to over hunting in the late 1970s. Today, Grevy's zebras are primarily found in Kenya and Ethiopia and, over the past 30 years, their global population has declined by approximately 70%. The major threats facing Grevy's zebras are loss of grazing habitat and reduced access to available water sources, competition for resources, hunting and disease.
This birth is important for Grevy’s zebra conservation as the species is currently listed as Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List and the current global population is only 2,800. Grevy's zebras were first put on the IUCN list in 1986 after their population began to decline due to overhunting in the late 1970s. Today, Grevy's zebras are primarily found in Kenya and Ethiopia and, over the past 30 years, their global population has declined by approximately 70%. The major threats facing Grevy's zebras are loss of grazing habitat and reduced access to available water sources, competition for resources, hunting, and disease.
Please note mom and foal will be NOT be visible to public until Spring 2019.
For more information on Grevy's zebras,
Toronto Zoo Media Contacts:
Katie Gray, Supervisor of Public Relations and Events
[email protected] or #416-392-5941
About The Toronto Zoo
The Toronto Zoo is Canada’s premier zoo and a national leader in saving wildlife to ensure the rich diversity of nature for future generations. More than a tourist attraction, the Toronto Zoo boasts a number of leading programs for helping wildlife and their natural habitats – from species reintroduction to reproductive research. A world-class educational centre for people of all ages, the Toronto Zoo is open every day except December 25 and attracts approximately 1.3 million visitors each year.
