We’re happy to report that we recently welcomed two zebra foals to our savannas at Walt Disney World Resort, and they’re absolutely adorable!
Grevy’s zebra Zach (in the main photo above) can be found on the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Hartmann’s zebra Daphne (in the photo below) can be seen on the Sunset and Pembe Savannas at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Playing a role in naming a baby animal is one of the fun and important aspects of an animal keeper’s role. Because we have another younger zebra at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge named Scooby, keepers felt it was only fitting for Daphne to be part the gang.
Zach earned his name in a slightly different way – keepers hosted a special zebra-naming event in which Disney’s Animal Kingdom cast members voted to name the foal.
“This was a really great opportunity to educate and inspire cast members the same way we strive to educate and inspire our guests,” keeper Meaghan said about the event.
Zebra are “equids,” or members of the horse family, and there are four species of zebra at the Walt Disney World Resort. This includes Grevy’s zebra and Grant’s zebra at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Hartmann’s mountain zebra and Somali wild ass at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.
The easiest way to tell a Hartmann’s zebra apart from a Grevy’s zebra is the presence of a dewlap, a square flap or fold of skin on the throat. The dewlap is very visible on Hartmann’s males, and you will need to look closely for this feature on the females.
How do you tell the difference between a Grevy’s zebra and a Hartmann’s zebra? All you need to do is look at the stripes on their legs. Grevy’s zebras have very thin stripes, and you might just say they have ears as large and round as Mickey Mouse’s ears!
With an estimated population of 9,000, Hartmann’s zebras originate from Namibia and southern Angola and their wild populations are considered very vulnerable. Grevy’s zebra are the most endangered equid in the wild and originate from Kenya and Ethiopia. Both species face declining populations due to the loss of accessible water sources and diminishing suitable habitat.
You can help animals by conserving water during daily activities, including washing only full loads of dishes or laundry and not leaving the water running while you wash dishes or brush your teeth.
Learn more about some of the animals at the Walt Disney World Resort by visiting DisneyAnimals.com.
