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Call the doctor, we’re in love. What’s more awesome than a horse? A zebra. And what’s cuter than a zebra? A baby zebra. Do you know what’s even cuter? A baby zebra with spots instead of stripes!
A rare polka dot baby zebra was spotted (pun intended) in Kenya, and the internet is going wild. The animal has already captured many a heart (ours included), and photos of the adorable creature have gone viral. What’s more, we might finally put to bed the age-old question of whether zebras are white with black stripes or black with white stripes.
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Photographers captured pictures of an adorable polka dot zebra in Kenya
Image credits: Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association
Image credits: catersnews
Image credits: catersnews
The unusual zebra was seen in the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya, where photographers Rahul Sachdev and Antony Tira, who is also a tour guide, snapped some photos of it.
Parmale Lemein, a wildlife specialist from the Matira Bush Camp, told the Daily Nation that this was the first such case of a polka dot zebra at the Mara Reserve. It’s most likely that the baby zebra has melanism, which is the opposite of albinism. However, he had some sad news: no similar zebras have survived past six months with such a condition in African parks.
Pictures of the baby zebra went viral online
Image credits: catersnews
Image credits: catersnews
Image credits: catersnews
According to some scientists, zebra stripes form when there’s an inhibition in melanin production, meaning that the animal is most likely black with white stripes and not the opposite.
But zebra stripes aren’t just for show. Live Science argues that they help the animals stay cool in the African heat. There are also theories that stripes help zebras hide from potential predators, and also help them avoid getting bitten by flies that are known to transmit diseases.
You can see the video of the beautiful baby zebra here
Image credits: Caters Clips
Dear Pandas, what do you think of the polka dot zebra? Do you think that zebras are white with black stripes or black with white stripes like some scientists argue? Let us know in the comments below.
The internet was instantly in love
What do you think ?
Jon S. 5 years ago
(Going to tell this story again, like I did on the last picture of zebras). Once in Iran a man asked me if I had seen Iran's famous white Zebras - pure white Zebras without the stripes. I said I never heard of them would love to see them....He took me to see some white donkeys.
Dr.Scott 5 years ago (edited)
During grad school I was studying elk herds in the Rockies and we would go out before daylight to place cameras. For the ones we set higher in the trees, we would use climbing treestands. One morning I was hiking into a place carrying my camera and stand and kept hearing something following me. Where I was you're thinking mountain lion so I had already accepted my fate. The weird thing was, every time I stopped, the thing following me would stop (every 50 yards or so I would stop). I made it to the tree I was to climb to mount a camera and take my treestand off my back. Turns out the 30 ft pull up rope I had attached to my stand had come undone and was dragging behind me.
Load More Replies...
Desiré Yen 5 years ago
Awww can't scientist's come up with a miracle cure to extend its life 🤔❤️
A Jones 5 years ago
Really cool pattern. At first I thought that madam Zebra had made friends with a certain Okapi until I read the article.
debrina blackmoon 5 years ago (edited)
no, because an okapi is a giraffe relative-i had to Google about that...didn't say it could breed with a zebra
Load More Replies...
Cactuar Jon 5 years ago
That zebra mum's got a lot of explaining to do to the dad lol Kinda looks half baby Tapir :O
debrina blackmoon 5 years ago
well they are related to horses but also rhinos
Load More Replies...
Living_Shadow 5 years ago
It's gorgeous, but it stands out, making it an easy target for predators :(
CookieNeerrrrd 5 years ago
Im in school, really bored, and this is really beautiful and made my day! Thanks!!!
Autumn Walton 5 years ago
catch it and take it to a place where it can't be hunted pls!! it's too beautiful and cute to die!!
D. Pitbull 5 years ago
New comment as I have a question for any other biologists and/or science types out there. A Professor (so no, not a highschool or elementary school teacher... post-secondary education) recounted a story once wherein he had been out on some research trip and was wearing night vision goggles so he could observe some of the wildlife. He swore he was essentially alone with maybe on or two animals far-ish off in the distance, but then he felt something BUMP him... and it freaked him out so he (I can't remember the order) took pictures around himself - just in case he could catch the bumper - and then took off the goggles... and he found himself SURROUNDED by Zebras. He claimed something about the alternating pattern of their hides made them essentially 'invisible' to night vision??? (no, it was also not April 1 when he told us this)
Dr.Scott 5 years ago (edited)
I would say he just wasn’t paying attention. Zebras wouldn’t be invisible to NV anymore than a giraffe or lion. It would make more sense if their stripes were for camouflage (ex to hide from nocturnal predators), but they aren’t. Anyone else feel free to chime in as zebra aren’t in my area of expertise (mine is cervids), but I just don’t see any credence in the claim.
Load More Replies... D. Pitbull 5 years ago
I would be interested to know what exactly it is that causes the shortened lifespan (other than something than predation)? What link does the hyper pigmentation have to the biological health of the animal?
Dr.Scott 5 years ago (edited)
As I said in my first comment to you, zebra stripes do more for propelling biting bugs than camouflage, so one theory could be they are less likely to repel bugs that carry equine influenza. Another theory would be they are more of a target for predators. Like I said, I’m a deer biologist primarily, so I don’t know that for sure. I have observed melanistic whitetail in the Edwards Plateau Eco Region and at least in their case, there is no higher mortality rate. Actually, in the EPER I mentioned before the abnormal production of melanin can be seen as an advantage as it hides them better from predators. Anyway, there is no physical difference between mammals with or without this mutation. So in my opinion, it just boils down to disadvantages in the forms I mentioned.
Load More Replies...
SirPatTheCat 5 years ago (edited)
I wonder why that happened? It looks a lot like drawings of the horses’ ancestors, I wonder if that has something to do with it?
David Anderson 2 years ago
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Natalie Fisher 5 years ago
When I worked on a farm I was amazed that Holstein cow when shaved for c-section have white skin under black hair and black skin under white hair. I think the zebra could be the same. So where the baby zebra had white spots is black skin. So the fur is a white strip on black fur but the skin color is the opposite. Very confusing
Deborah Akerson 5 years ago
Awesome lil foal.....I hope no harm comes to him and grows to adulthood and makes more babies like him! Beautiful animal!
Paula D Pozo 5 years ago
Looks like the Zebra mated with that other Antelope/Deer like creatcher with long horns.
Inservio Letum 5 years ago
I know I've seen that pattern before, but I can't for the life of me remember in what species. A deer perhaps?
Naima Ivansdóttir 5 years ago
i'm italian, one of our all-time most popular female singers (Mina) hit the charts back in the '60s with what would soon be proving into an evergreen smash hit, "una zebra a pois" (polka-dot zebra). so the news of this spotted baby zebra was no big deal in italy ;D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6njmjJhCXdo
Jacob Johnston 5 years ago
Zebras are technically black with white stripes, because their skin is black in color.
Trish Voelkel 5 years ago
(sorry if this is a dupe but can't find my original). His markings remind me a little of the Chital. I wonder is this is a case of inter-species matings? (rather than a reverse albinoism as someone suggested) I tried to post a picture but it wouldn't let me.
Dr.Scott 5 years ago
No. It’s from abnormal production of melanin. Changes in the coat color of mammals are (at least believed to be) mutations in the melanicortin 1 receptor gene. The mutated gene that causes melanism is recessive, just like the albinism. So technically it isn’t even “reverse albinism.”
Load More Replies... Trish Voelkel 5 years ago
There is an African animal called the Chital that looks surprisingly like this baby zebra (except for the stripes on the leg) Could this have been an inter-species match up? chital-5d8...b460b3.jpg 
Caroline Driver 5 years ago
Let's hope they protect it, from hunters or predators. Then perhaps we can see if it's heritable
sharron lynn parsons 5 years ago
Very sweet, I do hope it lives to adult hood,as they said it may not !!!
Carol Roeder 5 years ago
So beautiful. Thank you so much for taking those wonderful pictures and sharing them with us!
Tiffiny Seemann 5 years ago
This solves everything. Zebras are black with white stripes. Or in this case... spots.
Robert Sumner 5 years ago (edited)
I'm thinking the babe has cervid genes. Look at its eyes in bottom photo -- such a deer!
Carlos Adalberto Tonelle 5 years ago
well.. that answer my question! They're browns with white stripes, not the other way around
Laura Elizabeth 5 years ago
I hope it is protected for a hole trophy hunters whose eggplants arent big enough to satisfy them or anyone else. Let this sweetie live.
Lieutenant BaconWaffles 5 years ago
A new Zebroid species is born. There's an extinct species of Zebra called the Quagga that also looked very different.
Candice Lewis 5 years ago
I guess we finally know that it's black with white stripes (or spots) rather than white with black stripes.
Anderson B. da Silva 5 years ago
This is the emergence of a new species if Darwin and Lamarck were here to see they would be proud of what nature has just created and are likely to spread the genes to the next generation.
Václav Blumentrit 5 years ago
Even white zebra stripes are melting down. Any more proofs of climate change?
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Maybe the beginning of a new kind of zebra. There used to be one called quagga in South Africa that was hunted to extinction (by European settlers). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quagga
Load More Replies...
Jon S. 5 years ago
(Going to tell this story again, like I did on the last picture of zebras). Once in Iran a man asked me if I had seen Iran's famous white Zebras - pure white Zebras without the stripes. I said I never heard of them would love to see them....He took me to see some white donkeys.
Dr.Scott 5 years ago (edited)
During grad school I was studying elk herds in the Rockies and we would go out before daylight to place cameras. For the ones we set higher in the trees, we would use climbing treestands. One morning I was hiking into a place carrying my camera and stand and kept hearing something following me. Where I was you're thinking mountain lion so I had already accepted my fate. The weird thing was, every time I stopped, the thing following me would stop (every 50 yards or so I would stop). I made it to the tree I was to climb to mount a camera and take my treestand off my back. Turns out the 30 ft pull up rope I had attached to my stand had come undone and was dragging behind me.
Load More Replies... Desiré Yen 5 years ago
Awww can't scientist's come up with a miracle cure to extend its life 🤔❤️
A Jones 5 years ago
Really cool pattern. At first I thought that madam Zebra had made friends with a certain Okapi until I read the article.
debrina blackmoon 5 years ago (edited)
no, because an okapi is a giraffe relative-i had to Google about that...didn't say it could breed with a zebra
Load More Replies... Cactuar Jon 5 years ago
That zebra mum's got a lot of explaining to do to the dad lol Kinda looks half baby Tapir :O
debrina blackmoon 5 years ago
well they are related to horses but also rhinos
Load More Replies... Living_Shadow 5 years ago
It's gorgeous, but it stands out, making it an easy target for predators :(
CookieNeerrrrd 5 years ago
Im in school, really bored, and this is really beautiful and made my day! Thanks!!!
Autumn Walton 5 years ago
catch it and take it to a place where it can't be hunted pls!! it's too beautiful and cute to die!!
D. Pitbull 5 years ago
New comment as I have a question for any other biologists and/or science types out there. A Professor (so no, not a highschool or elementary school teacher... post-secondary education) recounted a story once wherein he had been out on some research trip and was wearing night vision goggles so he could observe some of the wildlife. He swore he was essentially alone with maybe on or two animals far-ish off in the distance, but then he felt something BUMP him... and it freaked him out so he (I can't remember the order) took pictures around himself - just in case he could catch the bumper - and then took off the goggles... and he found himself SURROUNDED by Zebras. He claimed something about the alternating pattern of their hides made them essentially 'invisible' to night vision??? (no, it was also not April 1 when he told us this)
Dr.Scott 5 years ago (edited)
I would say he just wasn’t paying attention. Zebras wouldn’t be invisible to NV anymore than a giraffe or lion. It would make more sense if their stripes were for camouflage (ex to hide from nocturnal predators), but they aren’t. Anyone else feel free to chime in as zebra aren’t in my area of expertise (mine is cervids), but I just don’t see any credence in the claim.
Load More Replies... D. Pitbull 5 years ago
I would be interested to know what exactly it is that causes the shortened lifespan (other than something than predation)? What link does the hyper pigmentation have to the biological health of the animal?
Dr.Scott 5 years ago (edited)
As I said in my first comment to you, zebra stripes do more for propelling biting bugs than camouflage, so one theory could be they are less likely to repel bugs that carry equine influenza. Another theory would be they are more of a target for predators. Like I said, I’m a deer biologist primarily, so I don’t know that for sure. I have observed melanistic whitetail in the Edwards Plateau Eco Region and at least in their case, there is no higher mortality rate. Actually, in the EPER I mentioned before the abnormal production of melanin can be seen as an advantage as it hides them better from predators. Anyway, there is no physical difference between mammals with or without this mutation. So in my opinion, it just boils down to disadvantages in the forms I mentioned.
Load More Replies... SirPatTheCat 5 years ago (edited)
I wonder why that happened? It looks a lot like drawings of the horses’ ancestors, I wonder if that has something to do with it?
David Anderson 2 years ago
USA Verified Stripe Account It cost you High for the first time. But, You will understand later how you will get the benefit of these kinds of Stripe Account. In a word, We will do a complete solution of Stripe Account & bank. You can get Just a Stripe Account at a Cheap Rate But Mind My Word Carefully, If You are looking for a Stripe verified account for long term business, You must Need a Real company setup Stripe account. Otherwise, Fake Stripe can face Verification & even your money can be locked in Stripe. So, Be careful before buying a stripe at a small-Price. https://realstripe.com/
Natalie Fisher 5 years ago
When I worked on a farm I was amazed that Holstein cow when shaved for c-section have white skin under black hair and black skin under white hair. I think the zebra could be the same. So where the baby zebra had white spots is black skin. So the fur is a white strip on black fur but the skin color is the opposite. Very confusing
Deborah Akerson 5 years ago
Awesome lil foal.....I hope no harm comes to him and grows to adulthood and makes more babies like him! Beautiful animal!
Paula D Pozo 5 years ago
Looks like the Zebra mated with that other Antelope/Deer like creatcher with long horns.
Inservio Letum 5 years ago
I know I've seen that pattern before, but I can't for the life of me remember in what species. A deer perhaps?
Naima Ivansdóttir 5 years ago
i'm italian, one of our all-time most popular female singers (Mina) hit the charts back in the '60s with what would soon be proving into an evergreen smash hit, "una zebra a pois" (polka-dot zebra). so the news of this spotted baby zebra was no big deal in italy ;D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6njmjJhCXdo
Jacob Johnston 5 years ago
Zebras are technically black with white stripes, because their skin is black in color.
Trish Voelkel 5 years ago
(sorry if this is a dupe but can't find my original). His markings remind me a little of the Chital. I wonder is this is a case of inter-species matings? (rather than a reverse albinoism as someone suggested) I tried to post a picture but it wouldn't let me.
Dr.Scott 5 years ago
No. It’s from abnormal production of melanin. Changes in the coat color of mammals are (at least believed to be) mutations in the melanicortin 1 receptor gene. The mutated gene that causes melanism is recessive, just like the albinism. So technically it isn’t even “reverse albinism.”
Load More Replies... Trish Voelkel 5 years ago
There is an African animal called the Chital that looks surprisingly like this baby zebra (except for the stripes on the leg) Could this have been an inter-species match up? chital-5d8...b460b3.jpg
Caroline Driver 5 years ago
Let's hope they protect it, from hunters or predators. Then perhaps we can see if it's heritable
sharron lynn parsons 5 years ago
Very sweet, I do hope it lives to adult hood,as they said it may not !!!
Carol Roeder 5 years ago
So beautiful. Thank you so much for taking those wonderful pictures and sharing them with us!
Tiffiny Seemann 5 years ago
This solves everything. Zebras are black with white stripes. Or in this case... spots.
Robert Sumner 5 years ago (edited)
I'm thinking the babe has cervid genes. Look at its eyes in bottom photo -- such a deer!
Carlos Adalberto Tonelle 5 years ago
well.. that answer my question! They're browns with white stripes, not the other way around
Laura Elizabeth 5 years ago
I hope it is protected for a hole trophy hunters whose eggplants arent big enough to satisfy them or anyone else. Let this sweetie live.
Lieutenant BaconWaffles 5 years ago
A new Zebroid species is born. There's an extinct species of Zebra called the Quagga that also looked very different.
Candice Lewis 5 years ago
I guess we finally know that it's black with white stripes (or spots) rather than white with black stripes.
Anderson B. da Silva 5 years ago
This is the emergence of a new species if Darwin and Lamarck were here to see they would be proud of what nature has just created and are likely to spread the genes to the next generation.
Václav Blumentrit 5 years ago
Even white zebra stripes are melting down. Any more proofs of climate change?
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Maybe the beginning of a new kind of zebra. There used to be one called quagga in South Africa that was hunted to extinction (by European settlers). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quagga
Load More Replies... 
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