A rare melanistic zebra foal with darker pigmentation and Polka dot-like pattern was earlier this week sighted at the Maasai Mara National Reserve popularly known for the Wildebeest Migration. READ MORE.
The rare sighting of the unique zebra foal on September 16,
2019 at the Maasai Mara national reserve popularly known for the world-famous Wild
beast migration not only caused a stir inside the famous park, with guest
rushing to get a glimpse, but also online where netizens widely shared its adorable
pictures while acknowledging its unique and beautiful melanin pigmentation.
Rare Melanistic Zebra Spotted in Maasai Mara, Botswana. (Photo credits: Kenya Pics)
According to Antony Tira, a tour guide and a photographer at the
Matira Bush camp who first spotted it, he recounts that moments after seeing the
foal, he felt confused. “At first I thought it was a zebra that had been
captured and painted or marked for purposes of migration. I was confused when I
first saw it," -Antony was quoted by local dailies.
After a closer observation, where he recounts seeing the young
zebra grazing and moving around next to a female adult zebra, he then concluded
it was indeed a Zebra foal but with a rare melanistic disorder that causes the discoloration
and thus the uniqueness in its pigmentation. While this is not entirely the first
time such an animal has been sighted in the continent, as a similar incident was
reported earlier at Okavango Delta in Namibia, it was the first of its kind in the
park and in the country at large.
Rare Melanistic Zebra Spotted in Okavango Delta, Botswana. (Photo credits: Michael Fitt)
Over the years, numerous cases of melanistic disorders,
genetic and developmental constraints in wildlife have been well documented and
researched, with studies pointing to the variability in genetic mutation and
development that brings about the diversity in mammalian pigmentation. In most
cases mutations one specific
gene, the melanocortin-1
receptor (Mc1r), have been
found to be responsible for
the spontaneous darkening of the animals’ fur. This, as observed by researchers
Kingsley et al, (2009) in their study on evolution
of melanism perhaps explains the reason for the unique pigmentation of the Zebra
foal, Tira, now named after Mr. Anthony Tira, the tour guide who first discovered
The sighting of the unique Zebra in Kenya’s world famous Maasai
Mara game reserve, has once again put the country in global spotlight as a renowned
wildlife safari destination with great diversity in its wildlife population. This
comes barely a year after the sighting of a ‘black
panther’ a rare darker leopard near Loisaba Conservancy, Laikipia county, Kenya.
Rare Black leopard 'Black Panther' captured near Loisaba Conservancy, Laikipia county, Kenya. Photo credits: Burrad Luccas Photography)
The ‘discovery’ of these unique creatures in Kenyan soils has
so far earned the country’s tourism sector the much-needed attention not only
as an ideal African safari destination but also a true paradise for game
watchers.Moreover, it has incredibly lent credence to the need for wild
life safari and traveling/ exploring the country’s destinations not only among the
locals but also among international tourist who seek to dive into Africa’s
wildlife capital of #MagicalKenya and explore its rich heritage and bio-diversity.
From visiting the Mara to witness firsthand, the 8th wonder of the world, to hiking at Africa’s second highest point, Mt Kenya to
later relaxing at the pristine sandy beaches at the Kenyan coast of Diani there
are not only countless destinations to travel to but also countless ways to explore
them thanks to the vast number of specially tailored tour packages we offer and
the variability/unique customization in their packaging to suit your safari expectations.