Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo welcomes adorable new zebra foal

CHICAGO — The Lincoln Park Zoo on Chicago’s North Side has welcomed its newest animal.

The zoo announced the birth of a female Grevy’s zebra foal. According to a zoo statement, the animal was discovered alongside its mother the morning of Saturday, June 18 — just in time for Father’s Day.

Baby zebra at Lincoln Park Zoo

The Lincoln Park Zoo says this is the first offspring of sire Webster, while it is the third foal for 9-year-old dam Adia.

WGNTV.com says this is the first zebra birth for the zoo since 2012.

Baby zebra at Lincoln Park Zoo

“We’re thrilled to welcome this new foal to Lincoln Park Zoo,” zoo curator Diane Mulkerin said in a statement. “Like all the animals in our care, zebras play an important role in educating our guests about wildlife.”

The Grevy's zebra is typically found in eastern Africa. According to the African Wildlife Foundation, the animal is among the most rapidly declining mammals on the continent due to hunting and habitat loss.

According to zoo officials, foals can stand within minutes of birth and run short distances within an hour.