Zebras'

The distinctive African horse.   Known for their striped coats and ability to kick.   Well what would you do if hungry lion was climbing up your back?   That kick can kill a Hyaena, in one recorded instance it was used by Plains zebras to kill a Wildebeest calf.   The calf had become separated from its mother and was likely to attract the attention of a predator with its cries, the execution seemed a kindness.

Zebra numbers are declining as their lands are reduced by human habitation and they are still hunted for their attractive coats.   They are also seen as competition for the domestic livestock of the human population.   Zebras' are also susceptible to diseases introduced by domestic equine stock, not having the same resistance. Historically zebras were used as food, in harness and as guards of livestock, now they are a tourist attraction, which offers them some protection.

Plains Zebras in South East Africa.    A picture with the kind permission of Vern Moore.

Why they are striped is still an unanswered question.   Several theories have been put forward but non with absolute certainty.   It could be that all the theories are to some extent correct.    There are residual stripes on other species of horse such as the Przewalski and the Icelandic it seems possible, to me, that the stripes are the only remaining examples of much more common equine markings.

The stripes are important for identification.   A mare will keep her foal from seeing other zebras, even family members, until it has imprinted her stripes to memory, it is one of the main ways by which she will be known to her offspring.   Her smell and call being the other important factors.   These same identifiers are how family members know each other, with Plains and Mountain zebras families being formed for life.   It is the patterns formed by these stripes that modern scientists use to identify  individual animals for study.   No two zebras having the same markings.

Grazers, zebras are often the first such feeders to use an area, cropping down the longer harder grasses.   This clears the ground for other browsers who cannot cope with the conditions until the softer food is uncovered.   As they are not competing with each other for foodstuff zebras and other grazers will often form a larger herd together and will heed the warnings of some other types of animal.   This also gives protection to all concerned, a hunting carnivore will look for an isolated weaker animal when ever possible.

There are three different species of Zebra: