Iggy’s baby is doing well!

She has kept us waiting, but we are excited to (finally) announce that 11-year-old Grévy’s zebra Iggy gave birth in the early hours of June 30. Animal care staff conducted a neonatal exam later that day and discovered that the baby is a male, appears healthy and weighs about 84 pounds.

After sharing with you that we believed both Iggy and 8-year-old Lauren to be pregnant several months ago, our animal care staff have been monitoring both zebras closely, watching for signs that their babies might arrive soon. We originally thought Iggy would give birth first, but Lauren surprised us when she delivered a baby boy on June 1!

Iggy and her foal will remain behind-the-scenes as they bond. In their natural range, Grévy’s typically separate themselves from their herd after giving birth, and we are mimicking this as closely as possible by allowing mom and baby to have isolated bonding time. Lauren and her foal are still primarily living behind the scenes but make the occasional visit to the Expedition Africa veldt as the baby grows more confident.

All Zoo births are important, but we are especially excited about the birth of Iggy and Lauren’s foals as Grévy’s zebras are endangered due to habitat loss, human hunting and competition for resources with domestic hoofstock. The sire, 9-year-old Bakari, arrived at the Zoo back in 2020 as a Species Survival Plan breeding recommendation. SSPs manage the populations of animals within AZA-accredited zoos to ensure healthy, genetically diverse groups – especially important for the endangered Grévy’s zebra.

We will continue to keep you posted on the baby’s progress and let you know when you can see Iggy and her offspring in Expedition Africa. Until then, we hope you enjoy some photos of the baby from our animal care staff as well as the cameras in the zebra’s barn area, a gift from a recent Give From the Heart appeal.

Brevard Zoo is an independent, not-for-profit organization that receives no recurring government funding for our operating costs. Your generous support enables us to continue to serve our community and continue our vital animal wellness, education and conservation programs.