Equus quagga boehmi
Zebras are social animals. They live in small herds, using facial expressions and vocalizations to communicate. They also groom each other by nibbling with their mouths. Their stripe patterns are as unique as a person’s fingerprint, so baby zebras use them to keep track of mom in the herd! Their stripes are thought to provide group camouflage against predators singling out one animal as prey. They may also help protect zebras from biting insects, the sun or extreme temperatures.
Foals are born after 1 year of gestation during the rainy season and are cared for by their mom for another year. They can stand up almost immediately after being born. After the rains come, zebra herds join together in one of the largest animal migrations in the world, across the Serengeti region of eastern Africa to find fresh grasses to eat.
Zebras are threatened with extinction, with a population drop of 25% each decade since the 1990s. They face threats of hunting and habitat loss, including blocks to their migration. National parks provide protection for zebras. When you support protected natural areas, you are helping to support wildlife conservation!
The Zoo partners with other groups to support the conservation of large African mammals and help people live alongside wildlife through the Tanzania Conservation Research Program.