A small seaside animal park in East Yorkshire is celebrating the arrival of a very special new resident — a baby zebra.
The foal, named Zuri, which means “beautiful” in Swahili, was found by staff at Bridlington Animal Park on Sunday morning. Zuri is a Grant’s zebra, a subspecies of plains zebra.
Keepers had suspected that 4-year-old Lola might be pregnant, but they were unable to confirm it with a scan because she was not calm enough for the procedure. So when staff arrived and saw a newborn zebra in the enclosure, it came as an emotional surprise.
Paul Woodward, the owner and founder of Bridlington Animal Park, described the birth as one of the park’s proudest moments. He said discovering the foal was especially moving because it came shortly after he had completed chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment.
Zuri’s parents are Lola and Marty, both of whom have lived at the park since they were young foals. The newborn’s gender has not yet been confirmed, but staff say Zuri is already doing very well.
According to Woodward, Lola has taken to motherhood beautifully and is caring for her baby with confidence. For now, Zuri is living in a spacious field with access to a stable.
Grant’s zebras are native to parts of central and southern Africa, including countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. They are currently listed as near threatened on the IUCN Red List, making Zuri’s arrival especially meaningful for the park.
The zebra foal is not the only recent birth at Bridlington Animal Park. The park has also welcomed four flamingo chicks and a baby porcupine.
Woodward said the flamingo chicks were another major success because flamingos are notoriously difficult to breed. Their fragile eggs are laid on small mound-like nests, making the process delicate and challenging.
Despite these exciting arrivals, Woodward said many people still do not realize how much the park has grown over the years. Some still remember it as a birds of prey centre, even though it has developed into a home for a wide variety of animals.
Running the park comes with heavy costs, including veterinary care and keeper wages, so Woodward hopes more visitors will come to support the animals and the work being done there.
For him, the park is far more than a business. It is his passion and his purpose.
With Zuri now exploring her new world, Bridlington Animal Park has even more reason to celebrate — and a beautiful new face for visitors to meet.