Late last year, a tiny baby zebra found himself in a life-threatening situation. The zebra, who lives in a South African Intensive Protection Zone, collapsed in a dam and was unable to escape.
Luckily, a stranger in the protected zone named Bernardo happened
to stumble upon the zebra while he was stuck in the dam. Bernardo knew he had to act quickly to help the struggling foal, so he quickly got in contact with Care for Wild, a local wildlife rescue, and they immediately sent over people to help.
“When they reached him, it was clear just how young he was, only a few days old, with his umbilical cord still attached,” Care for Wild wrote on Instagram.
Given how young the zebra was, the rescuers pieced together that he must have gotten separated from his family. The foal must have been utterly exhausted and terrified dealing with the situation all alone.
“We believe his mother had come down to drink and the little one likely slipped into the water,” Care for Wild wrote. “Still unsteady on his feet, he was unable to climb out again.”
The rescue team immediately got to work hoisting the young animal out of the water. As they reached out to him, the newborn zebra held out his hooves for the people to grab onto. Then, the rescuers got to work transporting him to the organization’s intensive care facility.
“[L]ying in the water had left the foal dangerously hypothermic,” Care for Wild wrote. “They started to dry him and wrapped him in towels from the ambulance, then placed a blindfold over his eyes to keep him calm.”
Once the foal was warmed up, the Care for Wild team made sure he got some food. After just a few sips of milk, the zebra was already starting to perk up.
“He was given warm milk to help raise his blood sugar and treated for shock,” Care for Wild wrote.
As soon as the zebra was stabilized, the team turned their attention to reuniting him with his family. They tracked down his herd using drones and were finally able to locate them after several hours of searching.
Before attempting to return the foal to his family, the rescuers rubbed a little zebra dung on him, which would help him not smell like a human. Then, they dropped him off in a clearing near the herd and crossed their fingers that they’d accept him.
“It wasn’t long before the foal began calling, and soon his mother and the rest of the herd appeared,” Care for Wild wrote.
The entire Care for Wild team is grateful to have gotten to not only rescue the newborn zebra but also reunite him with his mama. Now as he grows up, he will be surrounded by the protection and love of his entire herd.
