Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Gazipur has recently welcomed two new zebra foals, increasing the total number of zebras in the park to 30. The foals, born on Sunday and Tuesday, were seen roaming with the herd, confirmed Rafiqul Islam, the park’s official in charge, on Wednesday.
Anisur Rahman, the park’s wildlife supervisor, explained that zebras are African-hoofed mammals from the equid family. Zebra foals nurse from their mothers for 7 to 8 months. To protect the newborns, zebras move in herds, ensuring safety in numbers. The zebras, recognizable by their iconic black and white stripes, share their enclosure with giraffes, chitras (spotted deer), and barking deer, among other animals.
Park authorities are closely monitoring the foals to ensure their safety from other species. Anisur added that female zebras have a gestation period of 12 to 13 months. While zebras typically live up to 20 years in the wild, they can live up to 40 years in captivity.
Rafiqul mentioned that several zebras were imported from South Africa in phases through an animal trading company after the park’s establishment. The zebras roam freely in the African Safari section of the park, a large area covered with bushland and grassland, alongside other animals like wildebeests, giraffes, gazelles, elands, and barking deer.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
