Warning: Video not for sensitive viewers

Shortly after being born, a zebra foal’s mother tried to fight for its life when a stallion attacked.

A video posted by Latest Sightings at the end of July, tinged by Brendan Vorster, shows a zebra stallion attack a newborn foal, while its mother tries everything to save her baby.

Watch: Zebra stallion destroys newborn while mom fights back. Video: Latest Sightings

Kenya Wild Parks reports that adult males sometimes kill foals, a behaviour known as infanticide, which raises questions about why it occurs and what it means for zebra populations in the wild.

“These animals typically form tight-knit groups or harems, consisting of one dominant male, several females and their offspring. The structure of these groups is essential for maintaining order and stability, with the dominant male playing a critical role in ensuring the group’s cohesion. However, life in such a social hierarchy comes with intense competition, particularly among males vying for mating opportunities and the chance to propagate their genes. This competition sometimes leads to extreme and seemingly brutal behaviours, including infanticide, which serves specific evolutionary purposes,” says Kenya Wild Parks.

“Infanticide among zebras, while harsh from a human perspective, is an evolutionary strategy observed primarily in males. One widely accepted explanation for this behaviour is that it accelerates a female’s oestrus cycle. Female zebras with dependent young often experience delayed ovulation and mating. By eliminating a rival’s offspring, a male zebra triggers the reproductive cycle of the female, making her receptive to mating sooner. This provides the infanticidal male with an advantage in passing on his genes, ensuring his genetic contribution to future generations within the group. While it may appear inhumane, this behaviour serves an adaptive function in the competitive environment of the savannah.”

Infanticide is not limited to male zebras. Female zebras also exhibit this behaviour under specific circumstances.

“In times of extreme scarcity, such as during prolonged droughts, resources like food and water become critically limited. In such situations, a female may kill another zebra’s foal to reduce competition for the limited resources, ensuring that her offspring have a better chance of survival. Additionally, a female may perceive another’s foal as a direct threat to her own young and act to secure their safety. These actions, while instinctive and seemingly cruel, highlight the harsh realities of survival in the wild,” says Kenya Wild Parks.

Watch: Why do zebras kill baby zebras? Video: Kenya Wild Parks

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