Young Zebra Found Dead in Kaaterskill Wild Forest Preserve

A 5-month-old zebra named Zula died when it fell off a cliff in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest Preserve. Its body was found today.

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Environmental Conservation Officers were alerted today that a 5-month-old, 200-pound Plains zebra escaped from Bailiwick Animal Park in Catskill and was on the loose in the Catskills.

DEC officials said ECOs found the zebra deceased Monday morning near Rt. 23A between Palenville and Haines Falls in the Kaaterskill Wild Forest Preserve. The zebra appears to have fallen off a steep cliff and died in the Kaaterskill Clove section of the preserve. DEC Forest Rangers and ECOs were on scene with New York State Troopers and the owner of the zebra.

Owners of Plains zebras (Equus quagga) do not need a license to possess from DEC but rather a USDA license to exhibit, DEC officials said. If it was a Grevy’s Zebra (Equus grevyi), a mountain zebra (Equus zebra zebra) or a Hartmann’s mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) each federally listed as endangered or threatened, the owner would have needed a special license from DEC.

ECOs have contacted officials from the USDA and they are investigating the incident, DEC officials said.

The zebra ran away Thursday while its owner, Richard Myer, was giving it water, according to the Daily Freeman.

The owner is not affiliated with Bailiwick Animal Park, owner Gary Koschitzki said Sunday, according to the Times Union.

PHOTO: Plains zebra/Muhammad Mahdi Karim