Tira has a rather amazing dark colour due to a genetic abnormality linked to the amount of melanin, affecting the pigmentation of the fur. Zebra stripes are as unique as fingerprints, but Tira’s odd coloration could be the first recorded observation in the Masai Mara. Tira has patterns that appear as polka dots! A Maasai guide discovered a one of a kind genetically mutated baby zebra in the Maasai Mara and named it after his surname - Tira. It is unusual for these to survive for long as their distinctive coloration makes them stand out from the herd and they are a target for lions. Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.Rare Polka-dot Zebra Foal Photographed in Masai MaraĪ rare and unique Polka dot Zebra was spotted in the Masai Mara in September 2019, which has caused quite a stir globally - a melanistic zebra foal. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter / download our FREE app to enjoy the following benefits.And wouldn’t that be a pity? Browse our famous packages for experience-based safaris, search for our current special offers and check out our camps & lodges for the best prices. A few weeks too early / late and a few kilometres off course and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF AFRICA GEOGRAPHIC: To comment on this story: Login (or sign up) to our app here - it's a troll-free safe place □. Therefore zebras must utilise both behavioural defences (running away and tail swishing) and morphological striping to avoid flies.īut for now, Tira seems to be fitting in well with the rest of his herd in the Maasai Mara, followed closely by many keen wildlife photographers and guides, so here’s hoping he will do just fine! © Frank Liu Photography In Africa, flies carry dangerous debilitating diseases such as trypanosomiasis and African horse sickness, which cause wasting and often death. He may also suffer a bit more than others from biting flies as the latest research shows that zebras’ stripes act as a deterrent towards flies and other blood-sucking parasites. It’s going to be a difficult life for little Tira, as most zebras with such unusual colouration stand out from the herd and make easy targets for predators. Read ‘ The black & white of African wildlife explained‘ to learn more about the various colour mutations in animals. This condition is hereditary but can skip generations, and can be passed on by generations that show no visual signs of the condition. One other example of abundism is the ‘king’ cheetah. Also referred to as abundism, this genetic anomaly is a variant of pigmentation, characterised by dark spots or enlarged stripes, which cover a large part of the body of the animal, making it appear melanistic. Tira the foal appears to be pseudo-melanistic. The following day wildlife photographer Frank Liu came across the plains zebra foal while searching for rhinos. The tiny foal, who has a dark coat with white polka dots, was first spotted last Friday by Maasai guide Antony Tira – who subsequently named the foal Tira. Images of a rare spotted zebra foal have been sweeping the Internet this week after photographers caught sight of the spectacularly-coloured animal in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya. © Frank Liu Photography NEWS DESK POST by AG Editorial
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