KENYA (WTHR) — A zebra with stripes is an every day occurrence, but one with spots?
Photographer Frank Liu captured a rare spotted zebra at Kenya's Masai Mara National Reserve.
“Last night a Masai guide discovered a one of a kind genetically mutated baby zebra in Masai Mara and named it after his surname – Tira,” Liu said in an Instagram post. “I hope the experts will look into this case and share some interesting discoveries soon!”
The zebra named Tira has a pattern on his fur that appears as polka dots. The condition is called pseudo-melanism, which creates dark or darker spots on the animal's body, according to National Geographic. It can also create enlarged stripes.
But Tira's future is unclear.
According to NatGeo, zebras with unusual coloration don't survive the wild as long. However, if he does make it to adulthood, there's no reason why he won't fit in with the herd.
