Ecstatic keepers at Blackpool Zoo have really earned their stripes after becoming the first UK team to successfully breed a Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra in the last nine years.

The adorable foal is also the first of its species to arrive in the whole of Europe in 2011, with just 12 born around the globe in 2010.

Named Tebogo, a South African name which means ‘we are thankful’, by keepers, he takes the number of Hartmann’s Mountain Zebras in captivity in the UK to 14.

After closely monitoring mother Helene during her 12-month pregnancy staff arrived for work on Monday February 28 to find the foal already standing and within hours he was suckling. He has since continued to flourish under the watchful eye of his mother.

Sofie Haugaard, Blackpool Zoo’s Senior Large Mammal Keeper, said: “We were delighted when we confirmed that our male zebra Fernando had successfully mated with Helene and that she was expecting a foal.

“Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra births are extremely rare and it is fantastic to know that we have broken a nine year absence of new babies in the UK.

“Now that Helene and Fernando are accomplished parents we are hoping for the pitter patter of more tiny hooves in the future.”

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008 lists Hartmann’s Mountain Zebras as Vulnerable with a total population of around 9000.

For more pictures of baby animals, go to www.firstnews.co.uk/news-in-pictures.