BY TAMERU REGASA
Grevy’s Zebra is member of a horse family called Equidae and, is closely associated with horses, asses and other zebra families that inhabit in dry desert regions and open grasslands.
Grevy’s Zebra is one of the world’s most threatened wild equids and is IUCN red-listed as endangered animal species.
The species of Grevy’s Zebra are on verge of extinction due to habitat degradation and loss, competition for resources with livestock, hunting, drought, disease, hybridization and predation.
Since early records of their distribution, Grevy’s Zebra have undergone through one of the most substantial reductions of range of any African mammal.
In Africa Grevy’s Zebra, were found more widely across the horn of Africa including Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya with a reported sighting in Sudan but today they have survived only in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Some research indicates that though a lot of measures have been undertaken to protect and conserve Grevy’s Zebra, their number
has been decreasing due to natural and other factors.
Very recently, Grevy’s Zebra Albino incidence was spotted for the first time in the country in Alledeghi Asebot National Park of Ethiopia.
According to the information obtained from Ethiopian Wild Life Conservation Authority, this incidence is the first in its kind and this
uncommon happening was verified by the experts following the report of the incidence from park rangers who have been executing their routine patrol in the stated Park.
After a week of report, a field visit was conducted to document such uncommon happenings and it was confirmed that color change was observed on two albino Grevy’s Zebras which is believed to be resulted from color change of their black strips into light faded golden Fanuel Kebede (Ph.D) wildlife Ecologist said that it could be the case of albinism which occurred in most equine species particularly not a case in wild Grevy’s Zebra so far.
In his response to this unique observation, Dr. Fanuel said that further study is needed for better understanding of the cases and its implication on population genetics, conserve and it may also have a positive impact on the conservation action of the protected area.
The Grevy’s Zebra in Ethiopia is an important flagship species for the conservation of arid ecosystems such as grassland Plains.
Conservation of the species requires a strong support for conserving the area in which the community benefited from and protect the park.
In his further recommendation, Dr. Fanuel said that the identification of this type of albino Grevy’s Zebra in Ethiopia calls for further study. He also said, presence of unique zebra type may contribute to diversify the wildlife population and attract more tourists.
The Ethiopian herald December 19/2020
