MARWELL Wildlife has announced that Zuri is the winning name for a very important and rare Grevy’s zebra.

Wildlife biologists picked five Swahili names, a language spoken throughout Kenya, to go to the public vote – Kilima, Kisima, Mlia, Salama and Zuri.

Zuri, meaning ‘beautiful’, was a clear favourite with voters and received a 56 per cent majority in the competition.

Zuri lives in the Samburu region of Kenya with her mum Kalama. Her birth is significant because there are only around 2,500 Grevy’s zebra left in the wild, making them one of the most endangered equids.

Dr Zeke Davidson, a Marwell Wildlife conservation biologist based in Kenya said: “I hope UK residents living in Hampshire and surrounding counties enjoyed getting involved in helping name this pretty foal. She is very beautiful, with lovely brown stripes which will turn black as she matures, so her new name, Zuri, is very fitting.”

Zuri and Kalama are also of great interest as they feature on the world’s first African wildlife GPS App. Launched this month in conjunction with Savannah Tracking, the MiSavannah App use GPS technology to track several African species simultaneously. Kalama, along with a lion, a vulture and an elephant are each fitted with a GPS collar which enables users to follow their daily quest in search of food and safety across East Africa.

MiSavannah can be downloaded for both iPhone and Android phones. Proceeds (35% of the initial purchase price and 60% of further in App purchases) will go towards conservation projects for all four species. The App also includes biographies and photographs of each animal plus updates on the conservation projects for each species.

Data from Kalama’s collar, along with other collared Grevy’s zebras, provides a wealth of information on ranging patterns and habitat use. This information then helps Marwell Wildlife (and the Grevy’s Zebra Technical Committee – Kenya) develop conservation and management plans for Grevy’s zebras in Kenya.

The Grevy’s zebra’s decline is the result of hunting for their coat and medicinal purposes, as well as an increasing competition with domestic livestock for resources such as grass and the already limited supply of water in these drought prone countries.