This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
On October 11, 2019, a rare zebra foal was spotted in the Maasai Mara Reserve, sparking excitement among wildlife enthusiasts. The foal, which is approximately one week old, has a unique golden coat and distinctive striped neck, head, legs, and tail.
The foal's unusual coloring is believed to be caused by a condition known as amelanism, a pigmentation abnormality characterized by a lack of melanin, the pigment responsible for skin and hair color.
The foal was discovered by John Maine Kipas, a staff member at the Mara, who named it 'Maine Zebra' after his middle name. Kipas described the moment he spotted the foal as 'a normal morning game drive' that turned into an unforgettable experience.
'It was a normal morning game drive and that is when we spotted the rare-coloured foal. At some point, I could not believe my eyes. I clicked my camera and got some pictures of it. It looks more like a donkey than a zebra,' Kipas said.
The foal was found in the Ngiro area, where it was spotted among other zebras and wildebeests migrating towards the Serengeti. This is not the first rare zebra foal to be spotted in the area, as a polka-dotted foal was sighted just three weeks prior.
