New Zealand

Auckland Zoo recieves early Christmas gift

20:10 pm on 26 December 2018

In the very early hours of Christmas Eve morning, a zebra foal was born at Auckland Zoo.

The foal is the first to be born in eight years at Auckland Zoo. Photo: Auckland Zoo

The seven-year-old zebra, Layla, who gave birth and the foal were being monitored closely by the keepers.

But they currently appeared to be doing well, Auckland Zoo said in a statement.

The previous zebra foal to be born at Auckland Zoo was in 2010 - a Plains zebra - male Unyazi.

Auckland Zoo said it would update the public later on whether the new addition was a boy or a girl and when it was regularly in the paddock.

"We couldn't be happier with the latest addition to the zoo whānau and look forward to visitors being able to say hello," the zoo said in a statement.

Auckland Zoo now has five zebra (plain zebra species), as part of Australasian regional breeding programme.