In the African savanna, very few animals stand out as brightly as the Plains Zebra but what makes this creature such a successful and important animal?
Being the only Equid to truly flourish and live in the wild, the Plains Zebra is a remarkable animal, equipped with some of the best set of senses in the bush! Herbivores such as impala and wildebeest are often seen hanging around them in open plains whilst feeding, giving them peace of mind knowing that if any predator had to approach, the zebra’s incredible senses would pick them up immediately. But this is not the only reason. Zebra also play a vital role in facilitative grazing, whereby they actually prepare the grass for other grazers such as the Blue Wildebeest. The zebra does this by feeding on the longer tougher tufts of grass, shortening them to a height that makes it accessible for the wildebeest.
It’s also been well documented how no two zebra have the same pattern and that these act as a sort of fingerprint when individuals are recognizing and identifying each other but a question I often get asked is “what is the purpose of these stripes?” The answer however is not that simple. Scientists themselves aren’t sure but many theories centre on them acting as some form of camouflage. These patterns may make it difficult for predators to identify a single animal from a running herd and blur the perception of distance for the predator. Another theory, with zebra being extremely attractive to Tsetse Flies, is that the stripes may dissuade insects that recognize only large areas of single-coloured fur. According to an article I read, scientists in Japan apparently found that painting cows in zebra stripes dramatically reduced the number of insects that were biting them – by approximately 50%. Although there is no concrete evidence to substantiate this, it does make this theory plausible. It also believed that the stripes act as a kind of natural sunscreen and thermoregulation technique as with the patterns on a giraffe.
The size and weight of zebra also make them a prized food source for lion and hyena, however the feisty nature of these Equids makes them somewhat dangerous for predators to hunt. Zebra (like horses) have a nasty kick and won’t think twice about defending themselves and others against ferocious predators, and are even known to kill the young of wild dog and lion. This wild disposition and instinct also make zebra virtually impossible to tame and ride. Although they can be kept as “pets” in paddocks they will always make life difficult for handlers with their independent, rebellious nature.
Their bright coats and horse-like behavior along with the immediately recognizable symphony of noise that can be heard when they contact call, all make zebra a real treat for guests on safari and always provide them with some fantastic photographic opportunities.
Report and images by ranger Andi
