African Zebra

Lifespan

The most numerous and widespread zebra species is the common or plains zebra (previously Burchell's)

Zebras often move with wildebeest and occasionally hartebeest, roan Giraffe and Rhino.

This allows them to pool their defensive alertness and they usually have differing food preferences so grazing is not too competitive.

Their gestation period is 12 months and in the wild have a lifespan of about 20 years

Zebra in Weenen game reserve

South of the Zambezi river zebra have a brown shadow stripe between the dark stripes

Stripes

Interestingly, the stripes of a zebra are unique on each animal, like fingerprints.

The subspecies found north of the Zambezi river has evenly spaced dark and light stripes as compared to those found in the south and east of Africa having broad light stripes with " shadow stripes" between the thin dark lines.

At first glance zebras in a herd might all look alike, but their stripe patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints are in man. Scientists can identify individual zebras by comparing patterns, stripe widths, color and scars

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 black and white stripes are a form of camouflage called disruptive coloration that breaks up the outline of the body. Although the pattern is visible during daytime, at dawn or in the evening when their predators are most active, zebras look indistinct and may confuse predators by distorting true distance

It has always been assumed that the zebra’s stripes are for camouflage but even in woodland cover, this is not convincing, besides which, they often spend their time on open grasslands where they are very conspicuous because of their stripes.

One theory is that it serves to create an optical illusion of them being larger than they are or to confuse predators of their exact position when striking.

Their real purpose can only be speculation by humans and the animals won't tell us

Family bonding

Family groups are stable members maintaining strong bonds over many years. Mutual grooming, where zebras stand together and nibble the hair on each other's neck and back, helps develop and preserve these bonds.

Family members look out for one another if one becomes separated from the rest, the others search for it. The group adjusts its traveling pace to accommodate the old and the weak.

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