The foal, named Hebra, results from mating between a female zebra and a male horse. Zebroids are uncommon hybrids that typically inherit the zebra’s distinctive stripes along with physical characteristics from the other parent.
“These are very rare cases. There is a low percentage of them in the world. They have to be in a controlled area,” said Nusiba Hamad, a veterinarian at the zoo. “In the desert, it happens rarely because it is not a controlled environment.”
Hamad said the foal’s pregnancy lasted around 11 to 12 months.
“It has a few thin stripes [on its legs] because it is only two days old. As time passes, it will become more pronounced… The stripes will likely only develop on its legs,” she added.
Zebroids are usually bred for work or display and are typically sterile. Common types include zorses (zebra-horse hybrids) and zeedonks (zebra-donkey hybrids).
“We deliberately brought a horse last year due to not having a male zebra,” a zoo official added. “As a result, this foal was born.”
It is the first foal of its kind born in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, according to the zoo.
