The Brevard Zoo has recently welcomed a special animal to its facility.
- Lauren is 2-year-old Grévy’s zebra
- She lost her mother when she was 3-weeks-old
- She was being raised at Busch Gardens before coming to the Brevard Zoo
Lauren, a 2-year-old Grévy’s zebra, lost her mother when she was three weeks old. She was being raised at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay before coming to the zoo.
“Lauren’s situation is definitely unique and the staff at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay did a great job raising her,” said Michelle Smurl, director of animal programs at the zoo.
According to zoo officials, Lauren has been successfully introduced to the other animals in the habitat. She will share the space with Iggy and Zonka, two zebras that arrived last year and three white rhinos.
“They still need to establish hierarchy,” Smurl said. “So guests may see some biting and kicking, which is perfectly normal.”
Grévy’s zebras are considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. They are native to parts of Kenya and Somalia.