The zebra herd in Wildlands expanded last night. Mother Iris gave birth to a male. Because of the expected storm, it has been given the name Upepo, which means ‘wind’ in Swahili.
The youngster was born last night in the stables at Serenga, the world of hot drought. He was immediately examined and according to the caretakers, he is doing well. His 17-year-old mother Iris is also doing well. Upepo was her eleventh young. She also has 29 grandchildren and a great-grandchild who runs in the Wildlands herd.
Upepo will remain in the stable for the time being because of the storm, just like the rest of the herd. Wildlands has decided to keep all animals indoors as a precaution because of storm Eunice, which is raging over the Netherlands this afternoon. From 2 p.m., the KNMI has issued code yellow for Drenthe and from 4 p.m. code orange. The storm is expected to abate during the evening.