And now for some good news: Werribee Open Range Zoo just got a little cuter with the arrival of a new zebra foal.
The foal, a filly named Zola (which means quiet or tranquil in Zulu), was born recently to experienced zebra mum Zaide. Zola is not the first foal born to Zaide, joining her siblings Zari and Mudhe (as well as the rest of Werribee's zebra herd, plus ostriches, rhinos and giraffes) on the zoo's lower savannah.
Keeper Lauren Irving says that while Zola is currently a bit shy, there's every chance she'll soon become bolder. "Zola is not straying far from mum Zaide’s side at the moment,” said Ms Irving. “If she’s anything like her mother, she will grow up to be an incredibly confident and assertive zebra.”
Zola is just one of many animal babies born at Werribee zoo lately, with a total of 11 antelope calves also making their debuts during the last two months. The new arrivals include five scimitar-horned oryx and six lowland nyala. The baby oryx are a particularly exciting addition to Werribee, with the species regarded as extinct in the wild.
For those wanting to spot either Zola or the antelope calves, the best way is to hop on the zoo's safari bus either during the morning or late afternoon when the animals are most active.