Scientific Name:
Equus burchelli boehmi

Class:              
Mammalia        

Order:
Perissodactyla

Family:            
Equidae

Feeding Type:   
Herbivorous

Range:
East Africa

Habitat:                        
Vast open grasslands and savannas

Diet in the Wild:
Tall grass

Diet at the Zoo:
2 flakes of hay, 2 times a day and 2 lb. Equine Junior each
Longevity:                     
25-30 years

Description:
It is characterized by a pattern of broad, dark stripes. Brown stripes alternate between the dark and white stripes on the hindquarters and are absent altogether on the legs.

Adaptation/Behavior:

The shadow stripes serve as camouflage, making a herd of zebras indistinct at a few hundred yards. Zebra’s stripes are also unique, hence aiding individual recognition. Zebras are social animals and live in herds comprising of several family and stallion groups. Male foals will leave the group on their own accord, usually between 1-4 years to join an all bachelor group until they are strong enough to head a family. If the herd is threatened, the stallions will not hesitate to lash out with its sharp hoofs at hyenas and even lions. 
Courtship/Breeding:
Most births occur in the wet season from January to March, with a gestation period of 12 months. Single births are common and the foal stands after 15 minutes and suckles within an hour. Mares reach maturity at 2 ½ years and stallions at 4 or 5 years.

Conservation:                            

Grant's Zebra is about 750,000 strong and its future as a species seems secure.  The

biggest threat to the zebra is competition with livestock for grazing land.  Zebras are also hunted

for its beautiful hide and its flesh.

 

Interesting Facts	Our Animals
3 species of zebras; plains, mountain, Grevy’s Zebras have excellent hearing, sight and smell Can be calmed in captivity by grooming with a brush as it mimics the natural grooming between wild zebras	The Blank Park Zoo has two Zebras that came to the Zoo in 2006