Zebra With No Stripes But Spots Causes Stampede

Huge excitement surrounding the dotted zebra caused a stampede at Masai Mara National Reserve

A polka-dotted zebra foal has caused massive excitement in the Maasai Mara National Reserve of Kenya. Euro Weekly News reports that the “incredibly rare” zebra, with spots instead of stripes, was first photographed by Antony Tira – a renowned tour guide- come photographer at Maasai.

Mr Tira told said on Facebook  that he was “confused” when he first saw the newborn zebra, and thought it had been “painted or marked for purposes of migration.”

He named the foal Tira.

A picture of the zebra with a dark coat and white spots was shared to Facebook by Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association on Saturday.

Tira’s odd coloration could be the first recorded observation in the Masai Mara of a condition called pseudomelanism, according to the National Geographic.

It is a rare genetic mutation in which animals display some sort of abnormality in their stripe pattern. The genetic abnormality is linked to the build-up of dark pigmented melanin in the skin.