This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
On September 16, 2019, a photographer at a camp in the Maasai Mara Game Reserve made a remarkable discovery - a newly born zebra with a rare genetic condition that made its fur appear blacker than usual.
Mr Antony Tira, a renowned tour guide and photographer, was at Matira bush camp when he spotted the unusual zebra. Initially, he thought it had been captured and painted, but upon closer examination, he realized it was a zebra with a melanin disorder.
The zebra, which was only a week old, appeared weak and had not developed its characteristic stripes. It was stuck close to a female adult zebra, likely its mother.
The discovery caused a stampede in the reserve, with tour drivers and photographers rushing to the scene to catch a glimpse of the rare find. The tourists were thrilled to see the zebra, and hundreds of tour vans surrounded the area, creating an 'additional wonder' for international tourists.
According to a wildlife specialist at Matira Camp, Parmale Lemein, there has never been a recorded case of such a rare zebra in the Mara. However, he noted that zebras with similar conditions in other parks in Africa have not survived for more than six months after birth.
Scientists believe that zebra stripes are formed from the inhibition of melanin, and that the 'default' color of a zebra is black. The stripes serve as a protection against biting flies, and without them, zebras may be vulnerable.
