karenZOO
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Staff breathed a sigh of relief when the first zebra arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on October 22nd – they had been awaiting their arrival since the Park launched in April. As the galloping zebra was on the Park’s logo – it took some explaining why up until now there were none of the stripey equids for visitors to see at the Park.
Chief Executive Cheryl Williams explained “ When we were planning over the winter it was definite that we would have a mixed species African Plains area and that zebra would be part of our animal collection plan. As an iconic, easily identifiable species, we chose the zebra to be on our logo. It is galloping to demonstrate one of the key principles of Yorkshire Wildlife Park – that our animals have large open spaces in which they can run to their maximum speed and demonstrate natural behaviours. What we didn’t know was that we would have so much trouble finding appropriate zebra from other parks and zoos until now! But we are delighted that they are here and settling in well with the Addax and Lechwe antelope, the Ankole Cattle and the Ostrich. And now the African Plains does look like Africa!”
The two Chapman Zebra (equus quagga chapmani) came to YWP from Cricket St Thomas Wildlife Park in Somerset. Famous for their stripes, zebra are horse like animals who live in large herds in the wild. It is thought that the stripes help individual animals to merge into the herd when chased by predators – so all that is seen is a sea of stripes.The northernmost type has entirely black and white stripes whereas the southern types black stripes turn into a brown colour. At the most southern parts of their range, the Plain Zebras have shadow stripes in between the black on their flanks and the rump. Their bellies and lower legs often lack any markings at all.
In the wild, Chapman’s Zebra are found in East and South Africa, mainly in Zimbabwe. They are one of 5 subspecies of the Plain Zebra. Chapman’s Zebras are non-territorial and in the wet season move over large areas, often with other ungulate species such as various species of antelope and wildebeeste, but in the dry season will stay within a 10 km range of water. Chapman’s Zebra can breed all year round although a lot of births occur in the rainy season. One foal is born after 11 – 13 months weighing 40 – 50 kg. After half an hour they can run as fast as their mother. The foals suckle for up to 12 months, but they are able to graze from 2 weeks old.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park is in Branton just outside Doncaster. The Park is currently in the news for its campaign to rescue a pride of lions from Oradea Zoo in Romania.
Find out more on The Yorkshire Wildlife Park
Staff breathed a sigh of relief when the first zebra arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on October 22nd – they had been awaiting their arrival since the Park launched in April. As the galloping zebra was on the Park’s logo – it took some explaining why up until now there were none of the stripey equids for visitors to see at the Park.
Chief Executive Cheryl Williams explained “ When we were planning over the winter it was definite that we would have a mixed species African Plains area and that zebra would be part of our animal collection plan. As an iconic, easily identifiable species, we chose the zebra to be on our logo. It is galloping to demonstrate one of the key principles of Yorkshire Wildlife Park – that our animals have large open spaces in which they can run to their maximum speed and demonstrate natural behaviours. What we didn’t know was that we would have so much trouble finding appropriate zebra from other parks and zoos until now! But we are delighted that they are here and settling in well with the Addax and Lechwe antelope, the Ankole Cattle and the Ostrich. And now the African Plains does look like Africa!”
The two Chapman Zebra (equus quagga chapmani) came to YWP from Cricket St Thomas Wildlife Park in Somerset. Famous for their stripes, zebra are horse like animals who live in large herds in the wild. It is thought that the stripes help individual animals to merge into the herd when chased by predators – so all that is seen is a sea of stripes.The northernmost type has entirely black and white stripes whereas the southern types black stripes turn into a brown colour. At the most southern parts of their range, the Plain Zebras have shadow stripes in between the black on their flanks and the rump. Their bellies and lower legs often lack any markings at all.
In the wild, Chapman’s Zebra are found in East and South Africa, mainly in Zimbabwe. They are one of 5 subspecies of the Plain Zebra. Chapman’s Zebras are non-territorial and in the wet season move over large areas, often with other ungulate species such as various species of antelope and wildebeeste, but in the dry season will stay within a 10 km range of water. Chapman’s Zebra can breed all year round although a lot of births occur in the rainy season. One foal is born after 11 – 13 months weighing 40 – 50 kg. After half an hour they can run as fast as their mother. The foals suckle for up to 12 months, but they are able to graze from 2 weeks old.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park is in Branton just outside Doncaster. The Park is currently in the news for its campaign to rescue a pride of lions from Oradea Zoo in Romania.
Find out more on The Yorkshire Wildlife Park
