Exotic African animal joins others at petting zoo.Young zebra added to nature center.
by Monique Green.
mgreen@news-press.com

A black-and-white beauty at the Shell Factory and Nature Park is just a little bit blue since she left her home. The 15-day-old zebra, named Princess, arrived Wednesday at the North Fort Myers nature center from an exotic farm in western Kentucky.

She spent the day prancing in the rain, but she cried periodically as she became accustomed to her new habitat at the petting farm. “She’s just a baby and has all these new smells and people around her,” said Nancy Mitchell, CEO of the Shell Factory. “And she just came from a long ride on a trailer, so she can get a little skittish and nervous. But she’s getting so much attention.”

Park attendants crowded around the mild-mannered zebra Wednesday afternoon to stroke her striped coat. Princess, who has a few front teeth, drinks warm milk formula now, but she will start her diet of alfalfa and grass in four weeks. She’s fed every six hours.

Princess is a part of the nature center’s ongoing effort to bring exotic animals closer to Southwest Florida residents, Mitchell said.

The park has spent more than $1 million over the past year on landscape, sidewalks and fencing for animals. The petting zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day.

Don Carter, 56, of Bradenton took his grandson to see the animals in the park Wednesday afternoon. “They’re always interesting for kids to see,” Carter said. “Most children aren’t going to get the chance to see it in its natural habitat. So this is pretty good.”

Princess’ Florida home isn’t an unusual place for a zebra, Mitchell said. The warm and rainy climate makes a suitable home. All animals in the park were born in captivity or injured in the wild.

SHELL FACTORY ANIMALS

Bobby Jr. and Becki, the bobcats
Chico, the dromedary camel
Big Bertha, 11-foot alligator
Chachi, ring-tailed lemur from Madagascar
Wally B and Wendy, wallabies from Australia
Phyllis Diller and Bob Dylan, South American armadillos
Noodle, Thumper, Flower, striped skunks

ZEBRA FACT FILE

Swahili Name: Punda Milia, Scientific Name: Burchell’s zebra (Equus burchellii); Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi). Size: 45 to 55 inches at the shoulder (Burchell’s); 50 to 60 inches (Grevy’s).
Weight: 485 to 550 pounds (Burchell’s); 770 to 990 pounds (Grevy’s) Lifespan: 40 years in captivity
Habitat: Woodlands to open plains
Diet: Herbivore
Gestation: 12 months (Burchell’s); 13 months (Grevy’s)
Predators: Lions, hyenas, hunting dogs, leopards, cheetahs.