Cape May County Zoo Announces the Passing of Senior Member of the Zoo Heard

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ -- The Cape May County Park and Zoo is sad to announce the death of one of the zebra herd, Gretta.

On July 9^th, 2025, Gretta, one of the Zoo's mares, took off running across the exhibit with the rest of the herd. While running, Gretta turned and kicked her hind legs in the air, a typical zebra action, and after landing, she fell to the ground and could not get up. Staff were alerted and were there within minutes. Staff and veterinarians cared for her for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. Gretta later passed that evening.

Cape May County Commissioner and Vice-Director Andrew Bulakowski, who serves as the liaison to the Parks and Zoo, expressed his condolences on behalf of the County Board of Commissioners. He said, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Gretta, a beloved member of our Zoo family, who brought joy to thousands of visitors who came to see her and her foal. We are thankful to the Zoo staff for their expertise and care in making her comfortable until the end. Gretta will be greatly missed."

A necropsy was conducted, and it revealed that when Gretta landed, she broke multiple vertebrae and was fully paralyzed below that point. Our veterinarians are working closely with staff to ensure Gretta's foal is well taken care of after losing her mother. A care plan has been crafted and will be updated as the foal continues to grow. She is currently eating and acting normally.

The staff are extremely saddened to see one of their most senior members of the zebra herd pass. All staff, security, and volunteers' performance exceeded expectations as they jumped in to help during this emergency. We'd like to thank all of them for their hard work and dedication to the animals.

The Cape May County Parks and Zoo are open daily. The Parks are open from 7 a.m. to dusk, and the Zoo is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CMCZoo.com