Mammal · GBIF taxon 2440892
Plains Zebra
Equus quaggaAlso known as Common Zebra, Burchell's Zebra
Plains zebras are highly social equids famous for their striking black-and-white striped coats, which help disrupt predator targeting and deter biting flies. Harems consisting of a single stallion, several mares, and their young form tight social bonds that endure for years. During annual migrations across African savannahs, herds gather by the tens of thousands to track fresh seasonal grazing.
HerbivoreSocialSavannah
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Coarse Grasses
- Sedges
- Tree Foliage
Predators
- Lion
- Spotted Hyena
- Nile Crocodile
ThreatsHabitat loss, human encroachment, fencing blocking migration routes, and hunting for meat and skins.
HabitatsGrasslands, savannahs, shrublands, and open woodlands across eastern and southern Africa.
Life span20 to 25 years in the wild
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderPerissodactyla
- FamilyEquidae
- GenusEquus
- SpeciesEquus quagga
Native
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Large wild mammals capable of powerful kicks and bites; view safely from a vehicle or distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Weighing up to 300 kilograms, zebras deliver severe kicks and bites when cornered or threatened.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for broad black and white stripes extending onto the belly and a stocky equine build.
- What to do
- Never approach on foot; maintain safe distances in vehicles and avoid surrounding herds.
- What to notice
- Recognized by bold black-and-white striping and compact equine body shape on open grassy plains.
- Support conservation
- Avoid driving off-road through grazing herds or disrupting established seasonal migration paths.
Responsible observation
- Safari Viewing: Remain inside your vehicle to avoid startling herds or provoking defensive behavior.
- Give Way: Yield space during road crossings along wildlife corridors, allowing herds to move together.
Frequent Companion Bernard Dupont / CC BY-SA 2.0 · CC BY-SA 2.0
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
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
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