Zebra and unborn foal apparently die during birthing process at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

CLEVELAND - A zebra and her unborn foal died apparently during the birthing process this week at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

According to the zoo, the Grant’s zebra, a 7-year-old female named Nettie, was found dead on the morning of July 4.

This was Nettie’s second offspring, as her first – a female named Autumn – was born in September 2010.

Nettie was born at the zoo in May 2005. She and Autumn shared their exhibit in the zoo’s African Savanna with slender-horned gazelles.

The zoo said the life expectancy of Grant’s zebras is 20 to 30 years, and they’re native to Ethiopia, Somalia and northern South Africa.