Grevy’s Zebra
QUICK FACTS
Scientific Name
Equus grevyi
Species Survival Plan
Yes
Habitat
Semi-arid and scrub grasslands
Predators
Lion, leopard
Food
Grasses, fruit, shrubs and bark
Originally Native To
Somalia, Ethiopia and Northern Kenya
Height
60 inches at shoulder
Weight
Male 1,000 lb.
Female 900 lb.
Characteristics
Very narrow, close stripes - even on mane. Stripes extend down legs, but not around stomach
Gestation Period
13 months
Offspring
1 foal
Birth Season
Any month
Lifespan
20 years
Social Behavior
No permanent bonds between adults; only strong bond is mare and foal; do not form permanent herds
About Grevy’s Zebra
This zebra is named for Jules Grevy, a French president who received one from the king of Ethiopia as a gift in the 1880s. It is the largest and most solitary of the wild equids. It is set apart from horses and asses, its two closest relatives, by its stripes and untamable wild nature.
Grevy’s zebras are often seen on the open plains with other grazing animals, such as wildebeest, ostrich and antelopes. They can sprint 40 mph.
Grevy’s zebras have long, narrow heads with large, round ears to give them a mule-like appearance. Their ears can be rotated to determine the location of sound. Grevy’s zebras have good eyesight with binocular vision in the front and can probably see in color.
Their sense of taste is also keen and can detect slight changes in the quality of their food. They spend about 60 percent of the day grazing and up to 80 percent when food becomes scarce.
The zebra stallions live alone within large territories of up to four square miles, in which they claim exclusive mating rights. They mark their territories with dung. Two males will compete for an area by having pushing contests, rearing and biting.
They form temporary relations with females in estrus that happen to wander through their territory. Once the foals are born, the mares stay within about a mile of water and are almost always with the territorial stallion. The females have a dominance hierarchy as well, but engage in mutual grooming to establish relationships with each other.
Within an hour of birth, a foal can run with the rest of the herd and can recognize its mother with sight and smell. Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern.
Although they tend to be very aggressive toward other animals, Grevy’s zebras are beneficial to other wild grazers because they clear off the tops of coarse grasses that are difficult for other herbivores to digest.
Major threats to wild Grevy’s zebra are introduced livestock that compete for grazing land and hunting for zebra skins. There are thought to be fewer than 6,000 left in the wild. The Grevy’s zebra was one of Fossil Rim’s first Species Survival Plan (SSP) animals.
MEET THE NEIGHBORS
Waterbuck
Waterbuck are found in southeastern, central and western Africa. When exposed to a high level of human activity, they will become almost completely nocturnal, only...
Read More
Southern White Rhinoceros
Poaching remains the greatest threat to the white rhinoceros. Its horn is used in Asia for traditional medicines and, more recently, as a status symbol...
Read More
Scimitar-Horned Oryx
The scimitar-horned oryx once again roams the grasslands of Chad. Extinct in the wild in the late 1980s, 23 animals were released to native habitat...
Read More
Sable
The sable antelope gets its name from the Russian word for “black.” Its coat is short and glossy for females and young sable. Their coloration...
Read More
Roan
Roan, the fourth-largest antelopes in Africa, are usually active in the morning, late afternoon and evening. The roan is associated with woodland savannas, but is...
Read More
Ostrich
The ostrich is the world’s largest living bird. Its weight, small wings and weak wing muscles combine to make it flightless. Ostriches use their wings...
Read More
Mountain Bongo
The bongo, a striking coppery red antelope with white stripes, is shy and elusive. Most active at dusk and dawn, they will emerge at night...
Read More
Aoudad
Aoudads, also known as Barbary sheep, are the only wild sheep in Africa. They were brought to the U.S. in the early 1900s for exhibition...
Read More
Greater Kudu
Very large antelopes, the male kudu have thick, spiraled horns that can reach six feet in length. Sexually dimorphic, only the males have horns and...
Read More
Giraffe
Giraffes are the tallest living land mammals, and although it looks like their hind legs are shorter, all four legs are almost the same length....
Read More
Cheetah
The sleek cheetah is built for speed and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in seconds. However, it can run only 600 yards before it is...
Read More
African Spurred Tortoise
Very little is known about African Spurred Tortoises in the wild due to lack of field research. They are solitary creatures that live in some...
Read More
Addra Gazelle
Formerly one of the most prevalent Saharan gazelles, this antelope is the largest gazelle species....
Read More
Addax
There are less than 100 addax in the wild. Formerly ranging over the entire Sahara Desert of Africa, four-wheel drive access to the desert and...
Read More
ANYTHING YOU GIVE HELPS THE ANIMALS
As a private nonprofit corporation, Fossil Rim does not receive national or state government support. Every cent spent or donated here goes in some way, directly or indirectly, toward the care of our animals.