Excitement as albino zebra is spotted in Masai Mara

An albino zebra foal has been sighted in the Masai Mara Game Reserve.

The sighting comes barely a fortnight after a polka-dotted zebra was spotted in the park.

John Kipaas Manie said he spotted the albino foal yesterday morning while driving tourists around the game reserve.

“It was a normal morning game drive and that is when we spotted the rare-coloured foal. At one point I could not believe my eyes. I had to get some pictures of the foal, which looks more like a donkey than a zebra,” Mr Manie told The Standard.

Albino zebras can have a tan shade or be almost completely white, but they always retain a faint stripe pattern.

He said he chose to name the animal "Maine Zebra" and appealed to the authorities to guard it to prevent it from crossing over into neighbouring Tanzania.

The polka-dotted zebra that was sighted near Matira Camp by Antony Matira, a tour guide, crossed the Mara River with its mother into the Serengeti plains of Tanzania.

Narok Wildlife Forum chairman Nick Murero urged the local authorities to take advantage of the foal's presence to pull in more visitors.

“The Mara is lucky to be the origin of these rare zebras. It is unfortunate that we lost the other one to Tanzania but we want to ensure that we protect this one so as to attract tourists from all over the globe,” said Mr Murero.

Kenya Wildlife Service senior warden Dickson Riran said albinism in wildlife was as normal as in humans.

Mr Riran added that they would not interfere with wildlife movement and would not restrict the animal from migrating to Tanzania.