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ROYAL OAK, Mich., January 17, 2008 – The Detroit Zoo proudly announces the arrival of an endangered female Grevy’s zebra born December 26 – its second zebra birth in a year – and is inviting the community to help name its newest Zoo star.
The approximately 75-pound foal is the daughter of 15-year-old Elvira and 6-year-old ZZ. The foal is off public view in an indoor enclosure at the zebra habitat most days due to cold weather, but can be seen outdoors near her mother on milder days.
The community is invited to submit name suggestions for the zebra foal by visiting www.detroitzoo.org by February 8 and clicking on the banner at the bottom of the home page. Five of the name suggestions will be selected by Zoo staff and posted on the Zoo’s Web site for a public vote. The winning name will be announced in late February.
The Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest of the three zebra species, with adults weighing between 800 and 1,000 pounds. They can live up to 25 years in the wild and up to 30 years in captivity. The foal is a welcome addition to the world population of Grevy’s zebras, which is currently estimated at fewer than 2,100.
In addition to Elvira and ZZ, the foal joins females Zoë, 4, and Phoebe, 6 months, in the Detroit Zoo’s African Grasslands.
The Detroit Zoological Society is a non-profit organization that operates the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Situated on 125 acres of naturalistic exhibits, the Detroit Zoo is located at the intersection of Ten Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, just off I-696, in Royal Oak. The Detroit Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November through March and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October. Admission is $11.00 for adults 13 to 61, $9.00 for senior citizens 62 and older, and $7.00 for children ages 2 to 12; children under 2 are free. For more information, call (248) 541-5717 or visit www.detroitzoo.org. The Belle Isle Nature Zoo is open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. year-round and provides educational programming with interpretive staff support from the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. For more information, call (313) 852-4056.
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