Notty the Zebra

We’re at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi for a brief visit. We’ve stopped off on our way to our volunteering assignment in schools around Wamunyu to experience the Elephants that Sheldrick have rescued. Firstly, though, it’s Tytan the Rhino and Notty the Zebra. Both were rescued at almost the same time and have an entertaining inter-species bond.

Sheldrick Wildlife Trust are only open for an hour a day and respect their animals’ rehabilitation enough to manage their contact with people the rest of the time. There’s a small audience which is close but a respectful distance.

Notty is still being hand-fed milk from a large bottle. It’s no substitute for a mother. She drinks it eagerly.

There are three distinct species of Zebra. The most common in Kenya is the Plains Zebra. That’s what Notty is.

There are leaves for her to browse as well as the milk. I love the sensitive hairs on her chin and lips.

And there are funny faces to pull, which show just how closely related to horses and donkeys the zebras are.

I wonder how many of the classic Zebra sounds Notty will be able to make, given her separation from her mother? As we say goodbye to Notty, I’m hopeful that bray, whinny, neigh, snort, and squeal will all be part of her vocabulary.

Now we are promised Elephants. Inside I’m squealing.

More adventures in Kenya