Meet Tira, the Rare Spotted Zebra Whose Photos Are Breaking the Internet
Meet Tira, the spotted zebra foal whose photos have taken over the internet. Images from Kenya’s Maasai Mara National Reserve show a young zebra covered in dark polka dots instead of the familiar black-and-white stripes, and people across the world can’t stop talking about it. A Maasai guide first pointed Tira out, and wildlife photographer Frank Liu captured the now-viral shots during a September 2019 trip.
Once the photos appeared online, scientists, wildlife fans, and everyday viewers rushed in with questions. Some wondered if they were looking at an entirely new species, while others searched for the genetic reason behind such an unusual coat.
How Tira Was Discovered
Tira was spotted in the Maasai Mara, a 580-square-mile protected area in southwestern Kenya known for its dense wildlife population that includes lions, elephants, cheetahs, hippos, and large zebra herds. The foal was named after Antony Tira, the Maasai guide who initially noticed the young animal and understood right away that this was not a typical sighting.
Frank Liu, who was in the reserve searching for rhinos, came across the foal soon after and captured a series of clear photographs. Those images were later shared online and spread quickly across social platforms, earning thousands of likes, shares, and comments from around the world.
The Science Behind the Spots
Researchers explained that Tira’s markings are the result of a rare genetic condition called pseudomelanism. In zebras, specialized cells known as melanocytes distribute pigment across the skin and create their iconic stripe pattern. These cells are normally arranged evenly beneath the skin, and the way they express melanin determines the final color layout on the coat.
In Tira’s case, the melanocytes appear to function unusually by producing spots instead of linear stripes. Greg Barsh, a geneticist at the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, noted that this situation does not involve a lack of pigment. Instead, the pigment is present but appears in irregular groupings, almost as if the cells lose track of their intended location. Similar cases have been documented in other parts of Africa, including Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Tanzania’s Serengeti, but examples remain exceptionally rare.
A Harder Road in the Wild
Image via Reddit/AdventurousPlace6180
Tira’s distinctive appearance is visually striking, but it may also present real challenges in a natural environment. Research into zebra behavior suggests that stripes help deter biting flies, which can transmit diseases such as equine influenza. Field studies have shown that flies tend to avoid striped surfaces, making zebras less appealing targets. A spotted coat may reduce this natural protection.
The difference in appearance can also make it easier for predators to single out one animal in a herd, especially when movement and visual confusion usually serve as a defense strategy. Even so, evidence from South Africa indicates that zebras with unusual coloring have sometimes survived into adulthood and formed normal relationships within their groups, including breeding and raising offspring.
The Kenya Wildlife Service has stated that Tira should remain in the wild without special intervention, emphasizing that such anomalies are part of natural biodiversity and not a reason for human interference. Beyond the science, Tira’s rise to global intrigue also brought renewed attention to the Maasai Mara and its role in wildlife protection.