Audubon Zoo Welcomes Three Zebra
Audubon Zoo is now home to a species never before seen at the Zoo and rarely seen in human care around the world. Audubon welcomed three Hartmann’s mountain zebra last week. Their arrival is a first for Audubon. There are just 80 Hartmann’s mountain zebra in human care across 20 AZA facilities.
Hartmann’s mountain zebra are found only in the arid mountains and plateaus of coastal Namibia, parts of southern Angola, and northern South Africa. Their pointed hooves help them climb rocky terrain. They also use their hooves to dig in riverbeds for water if they cannot find any at the surface. Hartman’s mountain zebra are listed as a species vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss from livestock farming, climate-induced drought, and competition for water.
These are the smallest subspecies of zebra standing between four and five feet tall and weighing 450-820 pounds. They have black or deep brown and white stripes typical of their species, but unlike other zebras, Hartmann's mountain zebras have vertical stripes on their neck and torso and horizontal stripes on their backside. Zebra stripes are as unique as human fingerprints and are used as camouflage and can serve as insect repellant. They typically live in small herds made up of one male and several females and their offspring.
Audubon’s zebra trio consists of a pair of two-year-old sisters, Athena and Selene, and six-year-old male, JB which stands for James Bond. “The zebra were named before they arrived at Audubon Zoo, but we believe they are a perfect fit for New Orleans,” said Andrew Haertzen, Associate Curator of Africa at Audubon Zoo. “The female’s names are also the names of Mardi Gras krewes, and our male is already getting along fine with his new female friends, just like his fictional namesake.”
The zebra join Audubon’s two young male giraffe, Fennessey and Maverick in a multi-species, dynamic savannah exhibit. The two species would share habitat range in the wild, so pairing them at the Zoo makes sense for how they would live in the wild according to Haertzen.
The addition of the Hartmann’s mountain zebra at Audubon Zoo was recommended as part of the Aquarium & Zoo Association’s Species Survival Plan, which manages species population with the interest and cooperation of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums.
The zebra have a specially built barn area designed to accommodate them and will provide additional access for their animal care team. It was made possible through the generosity of local philanthropists who are eager to see the new arrivals. “We are excited to welcome Hartmann’s mountain zebra to Audubon Zoo for the first time and look forward to giving Zoo guests the opportunity to see and learn more about this vulnerable species," said Tim and Carolyn Cutt.
“These beautiful animals are only seen in 51 zoos worldwide, making their presence here truly extraordinary,” said Michael J. Sawaya, Audubon Nature Institute’s CEO and L. Ronald Forman Chair in Conservation Leadership. “Being able to add them to our animal collection is incredibly special for our community. Not only do they provide a unique opportunity for our guests to connect with wildlife they might never otherwise encounter, but they also play an important role in advancing our mission of conservation, education, and stewardship. We are proud to contribute to the global effort to protect and preserve this remarkable species for future generations.”
The Zoo has previously cared for both plains and Grevy's zebra. The last zebra at Audubon was Lucy, a plains zebra, who died of old age in 2021. Since then, Audubon has worked on a comprehensive plan to see the zebra return. Audubon Zoo celebrated zebra as part of last year’s Zoo-to-Do events.