Gretta the Zebra Dies from Fall Shortly after Giving Birth
Incident Date:
07/22/2025
Location:
Cape May, NJ - USA
Facility Name:
Cape May Zoo
Facility Type:
Accredited AZA Facility (AZA)
Incident Category:
Animal Death (AD)
Species:
Other
Animal:
Zebra
Animal disposition:
Dead
Summary:
CAPE MAY, NJ – Gretta, a female zebra, died after suffering a fall that left her paralyzed while running with the herd on July 9. Zoo officials say she kicked her hind legs in the air—a typical zebra action—then fell and could not get back up.
Staff and veterinarians rushed to her side and cared for her throughout the afternoon and evening, but she died later that day. A necropsy revealed Gretta broke multiple vertebrae in the fall, leaving her fully paralyzed. Gretta had given birth to a female foal just weeks earlier, on June 12. It was her third birth at the zoo.
Action take by Born Free USA:
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