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Zebras Return to the Pittsburgh Zoo

After a six-year absence, zebras have returned to the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

Penny and Spencer grazed and trotted their way around the new African Overlook exhibit for just the third time this morning. The pair of Grant’s zebras will eventually share their habitat with the giraffes, but for now, the animals are taking turns getting used to the environment.

Ken Kaemmerer, the curator of mammals at the zoo, said the animals have taken a liking to their new digs.

“They’ve acclimated very quickly, which has been a pleasant surprise,” Kaemmerer said. “And right now what we’re doing is we’re allowing the zebras to get acclimated to learn the boundaries of the exhibit.”

Spencer, who was born in Eighty Four, Pa., is the younger of the two. At about eight-months-old, his stripes have a slight brown tint that will fade as he matures. Penny is originally from Texas. At about one year old, her stripes are darker and more defined, according to Kaemmerer.

When the zoo sent the previous zebras away in 2008, expansion began on the African Overlook exhibit with hopes that the animals could one day return and coexist with the giraffes.

“We just decided that in an intervening period, we wanted to make some dramatic new changes to the giraffe exhibit that would better enable us to have both giraffe and zebra,” Kaemmerer said.

As part of the renovations, crews added a path that circles nearly the entire exhibit, allowing visitors to get a full view of the animals.

“You can get so much closer now to both the zebra and giraffe,” Kaemmerer said. “It’s like they’re almost standing within your space just about 10 or 12 feet away.”

Grant’s zebras are one of the smallest and most common species. Kaemmerer said Penny and Spencer already weigh about 300 pounds each and should only grow another one to two inches.

The zebras are currently on display from 9:30 a.m. to noon and are expected to become a permanent fixture by next week.

The Erie, PA native has been a fellow in the WESA news department since May 2013. Having earned a bachelor's degree in print journalism from Duquesne University, he is now pursuing an M.A. in multi-media management. Michael describes his career aspiration as "I want to do it all in journalism."