'Beautiful' zebra takes first steps at animal park

A zebra has been born at a small seaside animal park in East Yorkshire.

Named Zuri - Swahili for 'beautiful' - the Grant's zebra was discovered by staff at Bridlington Animal Park on Sunday morning.

Keepers suspected four-year-old Lola had been pregnant but were unable to scan her because she was not tame enough for the procedure.

Paul Woodward, the owner and creator of the park, said the birth of the zebra foal marked the park's "biggest achievement" along with its flamingo chicks.

Woodward said: "When we walked in to a baby in the morning, it made me cry."

The Grant's zebra, the smallest of the seven sub species of plains zebra, is classified as 'near threatened' on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

They are usually found living in central and southern Africa in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.

Woodward, who has worked at the park for 11 years, said Zuri, whose gender is not yet known, was the offspring of four-year-old Lola and Marty.

Both parents have been at the park since they were foals.

Woodward said the foal was "doing amazing" and Lola was "looking after it brilliantly".

Zuri is currently living in a large field at the park, with access to a stable.

The park is also home to four flamingo chicks, which were born earlier this month.

Woodward said they are "ridiculously difficult to breed", due to fragile eggs that are laid on top of small mounds.

He said: "Not a lot of people know about us, or still think we are a birds of prey centre from over a decade ago.

"The vet bills are ridiculously expensive, the keepers' fees are expensive, we need people to come through the doors."

He described his job as "my heartbeat" and added: "My phrase is, 'it's not a job; it's like being on holiday every day of your life'."

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