You don’t expect a zebra with golden stripes to be gone. It truly feels like losing a little piece of magic.

Zoe, the rare golden zebra at a Hawaii sanctuary, has passed away at 19. Staff at Three Ring Ranch in Kona shared the news with love and profound gratitude.

A Natural Wonder

Zoe was no ordinary albino zebra. Her stunning gold coat and white stripes were the result of an extremely rare genetic condition known as amelanism or leucism, which reduces dark pigmentation (melanin). This uniqueness made Zoe one of the most distinctive and beloved animals in Hawaii.

For many locals and travelers, she was the animal they always asked to see first. Her existence was not just a natural curiosity but a powerful symbol of uniqueness and different kinds of beauty.

Zoe is gone, but her story of wonderful difference will forever be part of the Hawaii sanctuary’s legacy.