New home for Paignton Zoo's zebras
The new enclosure is closer to their real-life conditions in the wild
There's been a real-life zebra crossing at Paignton Zoo, as the animals have moved to their new purpose built enclosure.
It's hoped the new stables will provide conditions closer to the ones they would experience in the wild.
In their native habitat in Namibia, South Africa and Angola, zebra spend their time on dry, stony land: quite the contrast to the soft Devon soil on the hillside of their current paddock, which can cause issues with their hooves.
Over the past few years, zoo staff have had to ensure the zebra spend enough time on their gravel hardstand so that they can wear their hooves down, meaning that the herd have had limited access to their wider enclosure.
Their new yard will provide a hard, stony stand for their hooves to wear down naturally as they graze, which will also allow the zebra to have full access to the new paddock all year round.
The move will mean that keepers can also control the zebras’ diet more closely.
Since the grass in their old paddock was grown on rich soil, they consumed a lot of sugar through grazing - which can cause issues including colic and laminitis, in the same way that it can in domestic horses.
The zebras’ ideal diet is more fibre-heavy and less sugary, so without the expanse of grassland to snack on keepers will be able to make sure they’re getting the best nutrition.
Paignton Zoo is home to four female Hartmann’s mountain zebra: Taru and daughter Tamali, and Leila and daughter Lia.
Team Leader of Large Mammals Stuart Parr said:
“This is an exciting move for our zebra that has been a long time in the planning. This move might look like a big change to visitors that are used to seeing our zebra on their grassy hill, but the new home is much more similar to their natural environment, so it’s really good to see them settling in.”