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Book your LIONSROCK accommodation here.
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Zebra
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Scientific name:
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Equus burchelli
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Average shoulder height:
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1.35 m
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Weight:
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Males: 320 kg
Females: 260 kg
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Gestation period:
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360-390 days
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Appearance
A black and white striped pony. Can be mistaken only for mountain Zebra. The stripes on the flanks run on to the belly (belly is white with a single stripe along the middle in mountain zebra). Stripes fade out on lower legs (distinctly striped all the way down in mountain zebra) and run diagonally and lengthways on top of the rump (crossways in mountain zebra). On the rump there are usually chestnut or yellowish shadow stripes in the middle of the white stripes (not in mountain zebra). In KwaZulu-Natal and Etosha NP the stripes on the rump are less distinct. Each individual has a unique pattern, and aberrant patterns occasionally occur. The muzzle is black. Ears are smaller than in mountain zebra. There is a short mane down the back of the neck, and no dewlap. The tail has a whisk of long black hair on the end. Females have on pair of mammae between their hind legs. Somewhat bigger than mountain zebra. Males are a little larger than females and have a narrow black stripe running vertically between their hind legs; in females this stripe is wide.
Behavior
The main periods of activity and grazing are the cooler early morning and late afternoon. Drinks at least once a day, with a strong preference for clean water. If the water is muddy it may scarpe a hole into which clean water seeps, or try to skim cleaner water from the surface. The basic social unit is the breeding herd of a stallion with an average of four or five mares (Kruger NP) and their foals. Stallions fight viciously for control of females. Males that do not hold breeding herds join bachelor groups of up to 15, with dominance rank depending on age. Groups are bonded by mutual grooming. Aggression from herd stallions keeps bachelor on the fringe of areas in which zebras occur.
When herd stallions met they sniff nose to nose, rub their cheeks together and sniff each other’s genitals, stamp their forefeet and toss their heads. Submission is signalled by lowering the herd, holding the ears back and making chewing movements. Dominance and threat are signalled by holding the head high with ears cocked forward or turned inwards and back, showing the teeth, and chasing.
Males check their mares’ reproductive condition by sniffing and flehmen of their urine. Receptive females stand with their legs straddled, their tails to one side and the mouth wide open with lips drawn back. The vulva swells and discharges mucus. Mature mares signal oestrus more subtly than do fillies. Copulation is repeated once every 1-3 hours for about a day.
The alarm call is a high-pitched “kwa-ha”, from which the old name quagga comes.
If threatened by predators, herds flee in tight brunches. Top speed is 55 m/h. Herd stallions defend their groups by running in the rear as they flee, kicking and biting attackers. Mares defend their foal similarly. Predators are much more successful if they can separate a zebra from its herd, and the contrasting black and white stripes may allow zebra to see each other more clearly in the poor visibility of a night hunt.
Reproduction
Single foals are born at any time of the year, with a peak in summer. In Kruger NP 85% of births are between October and March. Birth weight 30-35 kg. A foal stands after about 10 minutes, walks after half an hour and can run after an hour. It starts eating grass within a few days and weans at 11 months.
Diet
Prefers short, green grass but will readily take tall, coarse growth. Occasionally browses, and will eat the fire-scorched leaves and twigs of mopane and round-leaved kiaat. Being unselective bulk feeders, zebras are less sensitive tom food quality than other large herbivores, and can maintain body condition on very poor forage.
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Bank account name:
LIONSROCK PARK
Bank and Code:
First National Bank - South Africa FNB-230133
Account No: 62165825583
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