Equus Quagga Boehmi

Every zebra has a unique pattern of stripes! A zebra’s stripes are much like our fingerprints, no two zebras are the same. Wildlife biologists believe that the combined stripes of a herd of zebras help to protect them from predators. When they are running away from an attacking lion, the movement of so many stripes makes it more difficult for the lion to focus on any one animal. The Grant’s Zebra lives in family groups led by a single male (stallion), but when moving across the savanna to new feeding areas, a dominant female (mare) leads the way. The zebra is able to survive eating tougher grasses that many other species of animals are unable to digest. As it feeds on the grasses, the zebra opens up the grassland, benefiting other animals, like gazelles, that are looking for more tender vegetation growing closer to the ground.

Fun Facts

• Zebras are exclusively herbivorous, meaning they only eat plants!
• They are a highly social species. They can frequently change herd structure and will change companions every few months.
• If a zebra is able to escape a predator in the first 100 yards of the attack, it is usually safe from harm.
• The lion is the most prevalent predator of the zebra.
• Within several minutes of its birth, a newborn zebra begins to walk! Within just a few hours, they are capable of running with the rest of the herd.