Where do Zebras live? Three species of Zebra still occur in Africa, two of which are found in East Africa. The most numerous and widespread species in the east is Burchell's, also known as the Common or Plains Zebra. The other is Grevy's Zebra, named for Jules Grevy, a president of France in the 1880s who received one from Abyssinia as a gift, and now found mostly in northern Kenya. The third species, Equus Zebra, is the Mountain Zebra, found in southern and southwestern Africa. This article focuses on the Common/Plains Zebra.
What is the Zebra's habitat like? Zebras inhabit grasslands, especially those with scattered trees.
How big are Zebras? Height: 45-55 inches at shoulder Weight: 485-550 lbs. Length: 7-9 feet Tail length: 20-30 inches
What are the physical characteristics of Zebras? Zebras are black ground color with bold contrasting stripes continuing all the way down to hooves; rarely any shadow stripes, except occasionally and faintly on hindquarters. Seven to ten neck stripes; three to four vertical body stripes. Short, upright mane. Tail terminally haired.
What do Zebras eat? In the wild, non-selective grazing of available grasses, especially grass stems and sheaths. Teeth very high crowned, an adaptation to chewing silica-rich grasses. Large barrel-shaped body holds a very large amount of relatively un-nutritious grass. Zebras are very dependent on water. At the zoo, Zebras eat hay and alfalfa pellets fed inside at night.
Live in stable family groups of up to 17 animals headed by a single stallion. Members recognize each other by sight primarily, but also by voice and smell.
Male Zebras are not sexually mature until 5 to 6 years of age, although in zoos breeding may occur at 3 years of age.
In the wild, Zebras live about 20-30 years. At the zoos, Zebras can live up to 40 years.
Zebras have shiny coats that dissipate over 70 percent of incoming heat, and some scientists believe the stripes help the animals withstand intense solar radiation.
The Zebra's black and white stripes are a form of camouflage called disruptive coloration that breaks up the outline of the body.
Zebras use hooves and teeth in defense.
The Zebra is the only grazer to have both upper and lower incisors; it can thus snip the grass blade (rather than yanking it out), exposing the tender under grasses for others. The antelope of the plains rely on the zebra to open up the grasslands for them, removing the tough outer layers to expose nutritious parts.
At first glance Zebras in a herd might all look alike, but their stripe patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints are in man.
Zebras have their own smile, a bared-teeth grimace that is a greeting and helps prevent aggression.
Zebras are attracted to black-and-white stripes. Even if stripes are painted on a wall, a Zebra will tend to go stand next to it.
Does the Zebra have any predators? Lions, hyenas, hunting dogs, leopards, cheetahs. Zebras are important prey for lions and hyenas, and to a lesser extent for hunting dogs, leopards and cheetahs. When a family group is attacked, the members form a semicircle, face the predator and watch it, ready to bite or strike should the attack continue. If one of the family is injured the rest will often encircle it to protect it from further attack.
How many offspring does the female Zebra usually have? Under ideal conditions, a female Zebra may produce a foal every year. One young is born after a gestation of 361-390 days (about one year). Newborn has brown stripes and is short-bodied and long-legged. Weight 66-76 pounds; height 33”. Female guards her baby from other members of the herd when it is first born, perhaps giving it time to learn her pattern of stripes. Foals are very attached to their mothers; bond lasts until birth of next foal.
What can be done to save Zebras from extinction? Equus Grevyi (Grevy's) and Equus Zebra (Mountain Zebra) are endangered; Equus Quagga (Common/Plains Zebra) is not endangered, but population is in decline.
To help conserve the Zebra population:
Help protect its habitat and ensure a place for it. Zebras have lost much suitable and expansive enough habitat, due to the rapid expansion of human populations.
Aid in the conservation of the wild prey base. Let your elected representatives know your views on protecting endangered species and wild habitats.
Humans hunt them for sport and their skins. Please do not buy products made from wild animal parts.
Educate everyone about the need to conserve biological diversity, and the predators' unique role in a healthy ecosystem.
