The Living Desert announced Wednesday the recent birth of a Grevy's zebra foal, the first zebra born at the zoo since 2000.

Weighing in at 82 pounds, the male foal was born to Natalia, the zoo's youngest female Grevy's zebra, and Fenton, its only male, at 8 a.m. Oct. 9.

Both mother and foal are doing well and are on exhibit, said Jane Twedt, the park's director of development.

“It seems he's full of personality,” Twedt said. “He sticks close to Mom, but he's curious.”

Grevy's zebras are an endangered species, with the number of animals in the wild declining by 50 percent over the past 20 years, researchers say.

Found in the Horn of Africa — primarily in Kenya and Ethiopia — the Grevy's zebra population in the wild is about 2,000. Another 500 are in zoos around the world, Twedt said.

The foal at The Living Desert joins four other Grevy's zebras, two females along with new parents Natalia and Fenton.

The park is part of a species survival program aimed at ensuring genetic diversity of Grevy's zebras in captivity as well as safeguarding wild herds, Twedt said.

Grevy's zebras are black skinned with white stripes, and each zebra's pattern is unique. The striping provides natural camouflage for the animals, making it harder for predators to stalk individuals in a herd.

The Living Desert is at 47-900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert. The park is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

Information: (760) 346-5694