The zebra foal, at Maasai Mara National Park in Kenya, was captured by photographer Frank Liu who wasn’t sure if he was photographing a zebra at first.
“At first glance he looked like a different species altogether,” Frank told National Geographic.
Instead of the usual zebra markings, this zebra foal has a dark brown coat and white spots.
Tour guide and fellow photographer, Antony Tira, who named the baby zebra Tira, said at first he thought the animal had been captured and marked, according to LadBible.
Tira has a condition called pseudomelanism, “a rare genetic mutation in which animals display some sort of abnormality in their stripe pattern,” describes Ren Larison, a biologist from the University of California.
Unfortunately, the future is uncertain for baby Tira as her unusual markings make her a target for predators.
Successful adult life
It’s thought that zebras have that unusual pattern partly so they are effective at repelling biting flies which typically don’t like to land on striped surfaces.
Little Tira may have a problem repelling these flies which can often carry diseases.
But, according to National Geographic, if Tira can overcome these obstacles there is no reason why she can’t lead a successful adult life and fit into the herd.
What a beautiful animal!
Help us to share this stunning image today and wish her all the success with her herd family in the plains of Kenya.