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Fast Facts:

The Grevy's zebra is one of only six surviving species in the Equidae family
The striped pattern on the zebra’s coat helps to camouflage the animal and provides some means of protection against blood-sucking insects.

Grevy's Zebra

Scientific Name:	Equus grevyi
Classification:	Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Perissodactyla, Family Equidae
Status:	Endangered
Range:	Africa, in Ethiopia, Somalia and North Kenya
Habitat:	Sub-desert steppe and bushed
Diet:	Grasses and sedges, fresh or brackish water. In times of need, Grevy's zebra have been known to survive on bark and leaves.
Size;	The head and body of the Grevy's zebra can grow to a length of nine feet and a height of five feet. An adult Grevy's zebra can weigh up to 900 pounds.
Lifespan:	10 to 25 years
Location:	Not on grounds
Print Fact Sheet	Grevy's Zebra

Conservation

The greatest threats to the survival of the Grevy's zebra are habitat destruction and hunting. Humans have killed the Grevy's zebra for its meat and beautiful coat.

Special Features

There are three species of zebra: the plains zebra of eastern Africa, the mountain zebra of southwest Africa and the Grevy's zebra.

In the wild, Grevy's zebra spend 12 hours or more each day looking for food.

The coat of a Grevy's zebra has narrow vertical black and white stripes on the body, curving upwards on the haunches. The animal's belly is white, with a prominent and upright mane. Mule-like in appearance, its head is long and narrow, and its broad ears stand vertical. The tail is long, with short hair at the tip.

The Grevy's zebra is an herbivore with upper and lower incisors that clip vegetation and a battery of high-crowned ridged cheek teeth used for grinding.

Because of a very acute sense of hearing, the animal can detect sounds at great distances. Daylight vision is extremely good and the zebra's night vision ranks with that of dogs and owls.

Social Structure & Behavior

Grevy's zebra are active, noisy and alert animals. They are sociable, temporary groups of one or both sexes are common. These groups of individuals change frequently. Most adults live alone within large territories that may cover a couple thousand square miles annually. True combat may develop between stallions over possession of a territory.

In migrating groups, there is no distinct lead animal.

Breeding & care of young:

Grevy's zebra become sexually mature at about two years of age. Gestation is slightly more than one year, and mares usually bear only one foal. Mating and birthing occur during the same season, and for this reason, females will cycle again within seven to 10 days after bearing a foal.

After being born, young Grevy's zebra are up and about within an hour of birth. Foals will begin grazing within a few weeks and generally are weaned at eight to 13 months of age. Foals will remain with their mother until they are two years old.