Mammal
Plains Zebra
Equus quaggaAlso known as Common Zebra, Burchell's Zebra
Plains zebras roam the open grasslands and woodlands of eastern and southern Africa in tight-knit family groups consisting of a single stallion, several mares, and their young. Their distinctive black and white stripe patterns are unique to each individual, serving to disrupt predator targeting and deter biting flies. During seasonal droughts, small harems merge into massive migratory herds numbering in the tens of thousands to track green growth.
HerbivoreSocialMigratory
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyGrazer (coarse grasses, herbs, foliage)
Predators
- Lions
- Spotted Hyenas
- Nile Crocodiles
ThreatsHabitat loss, fencing blocking migration routes, poaching
HabitatsSavannas, grasslands, shrublands, open woodlands
Life span20–25 years in the wild
Classification
- OrderPerissodactyla
- FamilyEquidae
- GenusEquus
- SpeciesEquus quagga
Native
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Large wild ungulate capable of delivering severe kicks and bites; maintain a safe distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Delivers exceptionally powerful kicks and defensive bites capable of breaking bones and causing severe blunt force trauma.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by a stocky build with broad black and white vertical stripes extending onto the belly.
- What to do
- Observe from inside a vehicle or secure hide, never approach on foot, and avoid blocking movement paths.
- What to notice
- Features thick black stripes with lighter shadow stripes across the hindquarters and a upright mane.
- Support conservation
- Stay on marked safari roads, minimize noise, and never drive between members of a family group.
Responsible observation
- Safari Viewing: Remain inside your vehicle and observe quietly from a safe distance.
- Herd Dynamics: Look for a single dominant stallion leading and guarding a family group.
- Migration Watching: Position yourself near river crossings or waterholes during dry seasons.
Predator "African Lion" by Mathias Appel is marked with CC0 1.0. To view the terms, visit https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/. · cc0
Frequent Companion Bernard Dupont / CC BY-SA 2.0 · CC BY-SA 2.0
Close Relative Rainbirder / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Tony Rebelo, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Tony Rebelo · cc-by-sa
Close Relative H. Zell / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
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