TORONTO, ON, Tuesday, March 12, 2019: The public has spoken! With over 7,500 people voting in Toronto Zoo's "Baby Stripes Needs A Name!" Facebook promotion, one name has emerged as a favourite. Baby Stripes’ official name is "Obi", in keeping with the Star Wars-themed names as previous zebra babies were named Luke, Leia and Rey. The Zoo's Wildlife Care Keepers chose potential names for the foal and the Toronto Zoo asked the public to vote on Facebook between Tuesday, February 26 and Sunday, March 10, 2019 to help decide on the BEST name for the foal.

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 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.

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. 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.

Please note mom and foal will be NOT be visible to public until Spring 2019.

Toronto Zoo Media Contacts:

Amanda Chambers, Public Relations and Events Associate
[email protected] or #416-392-5974

Come on an adventure with Thomas and see the world through his eyes this March Break, discovering new friends, cultures and animals. The Special Events Centre has transformed into Tidmouth Sheds bringing with it fun for children and parents. Throughout the week, guests can pick up a Thomas & Friends™ branded Passport from the Special Events Centre, taking them on a scavenger-hunt journey through 6 different regions across the zoo, looking for Thomas’ newly made friends. Find all his friends, learn about the regions, the animals and complete each location. After you’ve finished, head back to Tidmouth Sheds (Special Events Centre) for more Thomas & Friends fun like colouring sheets, live animal visitors and a live screening area featuring the latest season of Thomas & Friends™.

During March 16th & 17th only, as an extension of the scavenger-hunt, check out the awesome Thomas playzone. Sir Topham Hatt himself will even be making an appearance! And make sure to get there early, the first 2,000 children will be getting a free Thomas & Friends mini engine! Hop onboard this March Break and get to know Thomas & Friends™! Too excited to wait for March Break? Catch the newest season on Treehouse TV!

School may be closed for winter break but the Toronto Zoo is open and ready for some exciting March Break fun! Not only is Thomas & Friends™ here all week but there are also our daily keeper talks, indoor Orchid Oasis, animal babies and the Wildlife Health Centre Viewing Gallery. It’s going to be a full week of fun so don’t miss it.

The Zoo’s Horticulturalists have hand-picked a variety of orchid species to showcase in our Greenhouse just outside the Wildlife Health Centre. Guests can drop by Saturday, February 16 to Monday, February 18, 2019 from 10am to 4pm to take in the beautiful exotic flowers.*

Guests may get the chance to witness a procedure when visiting the Wildlife Health Centre Viewing Gallery from 10am to 4pm daily. It’s a fantastic way to catch a glimpse into the important work we do behind-the-scenes. This facility was specially designed to tend to every need of the animals that call the Toronto Zoo home, while also providing the public increased visibility of the work that our Wildlife Health Care team completes every day.*

Our daily talk schedule includes lions, cheetah, polar bears, giraffes and more!*