Grévy's Zebra (Equus grevyi) lives in semi arid grasslands across Eastern Africa. It feeds on grasses and leaves. Its conservation status is Endangered.
Fascinating facts about the Grévy's Zebra
- Can go without water for up to five days, and some individuals survive more than 10 days by extracting moisture from tough grasses and forbs. Lactating mares must drink at least every other day, but non-lactating adults can stretch their thirst far longer, allowing them to roam the arid Acacia-Commiphora bushlands where water holes are scarce. This water-saving trait lets them occupy niches too dry for plains zebras, reducing competition for limited resources.
- Territorial stallions defend average 6 km² of prime grazing and water, marking it with dung middens and loud brays. Up to nine rival stallions may contest a single mare, but the dominant male keeps others at bay when a mare in estrus enters. This fierce territoriality shapes the species' loose social system where male-held resources, not harem bonds, drive reproduction.
- Foals are born after a 390-day gestation (13 months) and can stand and run within 20 minutes, reaching full speed in an hour. This rapid mobility lets newborns flee predators in the open savanna, a vital adaptation for a species where adults face lion predation and juveniles are especially vulnerable.
- Tallest wild equid, standing 1.45-1.6 m at the withers, yet weighing only 350-450 kg. sprint at 40 mph (64 kph).
Sources
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At a glance
RangeEastern Africa
HabitatSemi arid grasslands
DietGrasses and leaves
About the Grévy's Zebra
In the scorching savannas of East Africa, the Grévy's zebra roams with an air of untamed elegance, its slender legs moving in EKG-like rhythm as it traverses the arid landscape with a quiet confidence. With stripes as black as the night sky and a belly as white as the morning sun, this majestic creature is a master of camouflage and misdirection, blurring the lines between reality and illusion as it disappears into the dappled shade of acacia trees. As the largest of all the zebra species, the Grévy's zebra is a remarkable sight to behold, its very existence a testament to the enduring power of adaptation and survival in a world where the stakes are ever-rising.
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