Pregnant zebra dies during labor, ‘devastated’ Illinois zoo says. Foal can’t be saved
Complications began when an Illinois zoo’s 14-year-old Grevy’s zebra went into labor on Sept. 1 hoping to deliver a male foal.
“The birth was not progressing as hoped,” according to the Brookfield Zoo, so the mother was rushed to an animal hospital to get the care she needed to deliver the foal.
Veterinarians “did everything possible to help,” but Mypa died during a procedure at the animal hospital, the Brookfield Zoo said in a Sept. 2 Facebook post.
Her foal could not be delivered due to malposition, the zoo said, and also died.
“The team did everything they could to intervene and are deeply devastated by this outcome,” the zoo said.
Mypa arrived at the Brookfield Zoo in 2012 and became known as a “devoted mother” when she gave birth in 2016, according to the zoo.
“Her presence touched the hearts of everyone who cared for her, and she will be deeply missed,” the zoo said.
Grevy’s zebras are an endangered species and have suffered severe habitat loss in the wild, according to the African Wildlife Foundation.
They’re known for being the largest zebra species — with long legs and narrow heads — and stand between 4 and 5 feet tall, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
Less than 2,500 of these zebras are in the wild, according to the Smithsonian.
This species lives approximately 12 to 13 years in the wild, the African Wildlife Foundation said.
Brookfield is about a 15-mile drive southwest from downtown Chicago.
This story was originally published September 4, 2024 at 12:23 PM with the headline "Pregnant zebra dies during labor, ‘devastated’ Illinois zoo says. Foal can’t be saved."
