Layla steps out for a taste of spring

Layla the zebra, born last month to mother Marble, is finding her feet at Hamilton Zoo. Photo / Christine Cornege

Hamilton Zoo's latest addition, Layla the zebra, is finding her feet and developing a taste for grass while enjoying the warm spring weather.

The third foal for her mother, Marble, Layla was born on September 20 weighing somewhere between 30kg and 40kg.

Hamilton Zoo team leader mammals Sam Kudeweh said the little zebra, one in a long line bred in captivity, was walking within an hour of her birth.

"They're up and running pretty much after they're born - they have to be, obviously, or something would come along and eat them up.

"She's drinking off her mum but she's already started to taste grass ... she's enjoying the spring grass," Ms Kudeweh said.

Layla shares the zoo's Savannah enclosure with giraffes, black bucks, ostriches and several water bucks that will join them today.

"She's a very confident little girl, she's graduating away from her mum and investigating lots of things in her environment," said Ms Kudeweh.

Zoo staff were crossing their fingers for another of its pregnant zebras, Miribai, who is due to give birth soon.

"For now Layla is enjoying the spring weather but we are hopeful that she will have another little zebra to play with soon."

Ms Kudeweh said zebras bred in captivity had a lifespan of about 20 years.