Story By Marija Stojkoska
News Editor Ajda Ender
This is the moment a zebra foal with a black and white “punk” hairstyle explores his enclosure alongside his mother after being born at the world’s oldest zoo.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
The new arrival was filmed at Tiergarten Schoenbrunn in Vienna, Austria, where the zoo revealed the young zebra on 9th July after it was born in early May and has now begun exploring the enclosure alongside its mother.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
The foal’s striking mane, which stands upright along his back, has drawn attention as he begins discovering his surroundings at the famous Austrian zoo.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
The young male is still regularly nursing but has started showing growing interest in the food eaten by the adult zebras and other herd members.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
His diet is gradually expanding beyond milk to include grass and hay, as well as fresh branches and leaves.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
Zoo director Dr Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said fresh branches and foliage were valuable food sources and an important form of enrichment for many animals at the zoo, including elephants, giraffes and rhinoceroses.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
He added that leaves were particularly important for species that rely on foliage throughout the year, with some fresh greenery carefully collected and frozen to help feed animals during winter.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
The zoo receives regular supplies of fresh branches and leaves from MA 49, the City of Vienna’s forestry and agriculture department, as part of a long-running partnership.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
The greenery supplied this year mainly comes from the Lobau area and Donauinsel island in Vienna.
Picture shows male zebra foal born in May, 2026, exploring its enclosure. It’s still being nursed regularly, but is showing increasing interest in the food of the adult animals. Note: Press release picture. (Daniel Zupanc, Tiergarten Schonbrunn, Newsflash/NX)
The branches and leaves are collected during safety pruning work along paths, mainly in Vienna’s 21st and 22nd districts, before being transported directly to Tiergarten Schoenbrunn.
Petra Wagner, forestry director at MA 49, said the material was left over from maintenance work and was reused by the zoo.
She said: “At our site, these branches and leaves remain from maintenance work, while at the zoo they are put to meaningful use.”
The zebra foal continues to grow under the care of his mother as he becomes familiar with his surroundings and the food available in his enclosure.
(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)
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