CENThis is the dramatic moment a newborn zebra is saved from drowning by quick-thinking zoo workers as its concerned mum watches from the water’s edge.
The incident took place at the Valencia Bioparc in the eastern Spanish region.
According to reports, the mum zebra, called ‘La Nina’ (The Girl), was in labour in her enclosure and zoo workers were monitoring everything.
They were also quick to act when the newborn zebra, after the umbilical cord was cut, fell into water within the enclosure and couldn’t get out.
In video footage of the incident, the young foal can be heard making a distressing, no doubt panicked, sound.
Watch the video here:
The poor animal keeps slipping under the water as two zookeepers are quick to react and approach the newborn.
Its worried mother looks on from the water’s edge, trying to make her way into the water too.
As the floundering animal disappears under the surface, the two men wade to her position and calmly take both ends of the foal.
At that point, the protective mum steps into the water and goes for the two men cradling her newborn.
One of the keepers splashes water into her face to keep her away.
They manage to drop the foal onto dry land and quickly get away before the panicked mum can get to them.
However, when she sees her youngster safe on the ground, she shows it affection and the crowd of onlookers cheer.
After a quiet night, the newborn male and mother are both reportedly doing well.
La Nina arrived at Valencia Bioparc in 2007 from Zoo Halle in Germany. The father, Zambe, arrived from France in 2012.
Plains zebras and mountain zebras, in case you wanted to know, live in family groups led by a stallion, with several mares and offspring. Family groups (known as harems) sometimes get together to form loosely associated herds, according to Live Science.
Grevy’s zebras – that’s grevy not gravy – don’t have herds. Alternatively, stallions establish territories and mares cross into them to breed and give birth. Once the foals are old enough to travel, they and their mums move on.
While the zebra in this video doesn’t get particularly showy, the animal does have several ways to communicate with one another. Facial expressions, such as wide-open eyes or bared teeth, all amount to chit-chat. Zebras also bark, bray, snort or huff to get their point across.
Anyway, whatever, you’re not in school anymore. I just wanted to maybe let you in on a bit of zebra trivia should you have the desire to possess it.
Have a great Friday and remember: watch our for your little ones knocking about near water, because they could drown. Peace out!
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