LAHORE: This year once again, a zebra at the Lahore Zoo has given birth to a male foal making a total of nine zebras, with four males and five females. After a long gestation of 12 months, the foal born is now suckling on its mother and is healthy.
The Lahore Zoo has been trying to conserve the Burchell’s zebra in-situ (in captivity, not in the wild) conservation since the last few years. “The zoo management has been very vigilant in the breeding and the conservation of this exotic animal,” says Dr Zeb Mahal, who looks after animal care.
Zebras are nervous, aggressive and jumpy animals, generally found in large herds. The zoo management says they make sure that pregnant mothers are provided with special care.
A zebra can live up to 30 years but generally life expectancy in the wild is about 12 years. Although they have existed in the Lahore Zoo since 1971, this particular breeding herd is continuing since 1982.
