Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park Welcomes Two Baby Zebras, Now Seen on Kilimanjaro Safaris Savanna

Hi everyone!

Walt Disney World has shared a wonderful story (and photos!) about two adorable Hartmann’s mountain zebra foals that can now be seen on the Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom park. The pair spent their first couple of weeks backstage bonding with their moms before joining their dad Domino on the savanna June 23rd, 2023.

Read below for the information on the two zebra foals from the Walt Disney World Resort!

Dot and mom Aziza, photo by Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World Resort welcomed not one but two adorable Hartmann’s mountain zebra foals, and both now can be seen delighting guests on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park. 

Cricket, who was born to first-time mom Juno on May 29, loves the water and has been seen splashing around in puddles on the savanna. She is getting more independent and starting to explore her surroundings away from mom. Cricket’s name is a nod to Disney•Pixar’s “A Bug’s Life” and ties in with her mom Juno’s nickname of June Bug. 

Cricket and mom Juno, photo by Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World.

Dot, who was born to first-time mom Aziza on June 4, is a little more energetic than her sister and can be seen darting around the savanna getting her “zoomies” out. Dot is named for the dots on a domino, which is a nod to her father’s name, and also ties in with the film. 

Just as they have different personalities, their stripes vary, too.

Each Hartmann’s mountain zebra – whose stripes stop right at their bellies unlike common zebras whose stripes wrap around their entire body – is born with unique stripe patterns, and no two are the same, just like human fingerprints! 

Baby zebra Dot, photo by Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World

Dot has connecting stripes on the back of her legs like her mom Aziza and a triangle shape on the front of both of her shoulders that resembles an upside-down checkmark. 

Cricket’s stripes on the back of her legs are more jagged and don’t connect, and she has a stripe on both shoulders that is forked, resembling a wishbone.

Zebra herd with Dot and mom Aziza in front, Dad Domino on the left, and Cricket and mom Aziza in back. Photo by Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World

Hartmann’s mountain zebras are found in sub-Saharan Africa and are a vulnerable species due to habitat loss and hunting. These foals’ births are part of the Species Survival Plan, which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and ensures responsible breeding and genetic diversity of hundreds of animal species. 

Both foals are adjusting well to life on the savanna and are very curious about their surroundings. Guests can find these adorable new additions and the rest of the herd on Kilimanjaro Safaris.