Mammal
Grant's Zebra
Equus quagga boehmiAlso known as Boehm's Zebra
Grant's zebras are highly social grazers famous for their bold, vertical black-and-white stripes that help confuse predators during a chase. They live in stable family groups called harems, led by a single stallion and containing several females and their offspring. During the dry season, thousands of these equids join wildebeest and gazelles in spectacular, long-distance migrations across the East African savanna in search of fresh water and green pastures.
HerbivoreMigratorySocial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCoarse grasses, herbs, shrubs, and leaves
Predators
- Lion
- Spotted Hyena
- Leopard
ThreatsHabitat loss, hunting for meat and skins, and drought
HabitatsSavannas, open grasslands, and grassy woodlands
Life span20 to 30 years
Classification
- FamilyEquidae
- SpeciesEquus quagga boehmi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Can deliver powerful kicks and bites if cornered; maintain a safe distance during safaris.
- Why it is dangerous
- Capable of delivering bone-shattering kicks and severe bites when threatened or defending their harem.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for the bold, broad black-and-white stripes extending all the way down to the hooves, without shadow stripes.
- What to do
- Never approach on foot; stay inside safari vehicles and keep a respectful distance of at least 30 meters.
Responsible observation
- Safari Etiquette: Always view these animals from the safety of a vehicle to avoid startling the herd.
- Watch the Ears: Observe their ear positions, as flattened ears signal aggression or fear.
- Listen for Calls: Listen for their distinctive high-pitched bray-bark contact call, which sounds like a-ha, a-ha.
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 "Chapman’s Zebra" by lightstars is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative Rainbirder / CC BY-SA 2.0 · cc-by-sa
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