The National Zoo and Aquarium has welcomed the newest member of their zebra herd, two-year-old stallion Tambo.
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Tambo was brought in from Dubbo Zoo this month to replace an older male Zambezi, who, a victim of his own success, fathered so many foals he was moved to a bachelor herd in Australia Zoo so new blood could be brought in.
![Eye on the ladies ... Tambo, right, checks out Zara, Kike and young male Malawi. Photo: Colleen Petch Eye on the ladies ... Tambo, right, checks out Zara, Kike and young male Malawi. Photo: Colleen Petch](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/6a651636-a68d-4c3a-a3cf-7b26088fe2e1.jpg/r0_0_729_410_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Tambo is now getting to know much older mares Zahra and Kike, and Zahra's foal Malawi.
Senior Wildlife Keeper Bec Scott said the other zebras were getting used to Tambo, but it was tough going to begin with and he had a bite mark on his flank to prove it.
![Tambo was brought in from Dubbo. Photo: Colleen Petch Tambo was brought in from Dubbo. Photo: Colleen Petch](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/eb4511ff-d365-46a7-bbc9-faa15c39704e.jpg/r0_0_353_340_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"The girls here certainly gave him a bit of a run for his money, they made him work hard to become part of the herd, but now after a week or so Tambo has actually settled in quite well," she said.
The National Zoo and Aquarium is part of a breeding network spanning Australia and New Zealand that specialised in the plain zebra.
Ms Scott said it would be about another year until Tambo became sexually mature, so they did not expect a foal fathered by him for a while yet.