No place is like Africa. Italians and the French use the expression “Mal d’Africa” or “Mal d’Afrique” (literally, “Africa’s disease”) to describe the intense nostalgic feeling experienced by those who visited Africa and fell in love with it so much they want to go back as soon as possible. And how could you not?
It’s the cradle of humanity, the birthplace of unique forms of art, music, and inventions, and a land where nature and wildlife still rule supreme. And few animals are as representative of this continent as zebras!
If you’ve ever been lucky enough to see these black-and-white striped equines with your own eyes, you’ll know that zebras are truly a sight to behold. Unlike horses, they’ve never been domesticated, but this doesn’t mean we cannot admire their majestic and graceful nature. Sanctuaries are the perfect place to get a glimpse of these striped animals in a protected habitat.
Meanwhile, why don’t we explore some of the most fascinating zebra facts you might not know? For such an iconic African animal, there are still many facts about zebras that most people don’t know! For example, did you know that a zebra’s stripes are unique, just like human fingerprints? Or that zebras can sleep standing up? Prepare to be amazed, because today we’re off to Africa to learn more about one of nature’s coolest-looking creatures!
#1
Ethologists have observed that mountain zebras pay close attention to other animals’ behavior and communication. An example? They act in response to the black wildebeest’s alarm signals that warn of a predator’s presence or another potential risk. However, they rarely react to the alarm signals of smaller antelopes.
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14points
#2
If you have ever wondered if horse-zebra hybrids exist, the answer is yes. They’re called zorses, and they’re the offspring of a zebra stallion and a horse mare. This hybrid has been mentioned several times in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series of fantasy novels. Like most hybrids, zorses are sterile.
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13points
#4
Zebras have a strong sense of community and are not afraid to stand up for their herd companions. When one of them gets wounded by a predator’s attack, other zebras immediately come to their rescue by circling the injured companion and assisting in the attempt to drive away the attacker.
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11points
#5
All zebras are native to Africa, but depending on their species, they have their own peculiar habitat. Plains zebras can be found in eastern and southern Africa; Grevy’s zebras live in Ethiopia and Kenya; mountain zebras are instead commonly found in South Africa, Namibia, and Angola.
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9points
#6
Hartmann’s mountain zebras, which range from South West Africa to Angola, are known for their playful nature. They have a preference for certain games, including chasing each other, racing, and play-fighting. They commonly engage in nose-to-nose contact followed by mutual grooming.
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9points
#7
Zebras can communicate both verbally and nonverbally. The most notable example of non-verbal communication is through facial expression, their ears in particular. When greeting each other, they stick their ears up and push their faces forward. When feeling threatened, they press their ears against their heads.
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8points
#8
Alongside horses and donkeys, zebras are the only living group of animals with just one toe.
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8points
#9
Fossils from China and Uzbekistan, as well as a two-million-year-old fossil found in South Africa, provide evidence that ancestral forms of Grevy’s zebras once roamed Africa and Eurasia.
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7points
#10
Albino zebras exist: they’ve been spotted in the forests of Mount Kenya, and their dark stripes are blonde.
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7points
#11
Mountain zebras roam in the mountains at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters.
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7points
#12
Zebras have a habit of rubbing against various objects and even rolling in the dirt. The rolling action covers their coat with sand and soil, which helps zebras keep themselves clean, rubbing off dead skin and getting rid of ticks, biting insects, and pests. Zebras also help keep each other clean.
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7points
#13
Jahangir, the fourth Mughal emperor who reigned on the Indian subcontinent in the 17th century, received a zebra from Mir Ja’far in 1620. Ustad Mansur, one of the leading artists during Jahangir’s reign, made a painting of it.
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7points
#14
In 1882, the government of Ethiopia — known as Abyssinia at the time — sent a zebra to French president Jules Grévy as a gift. That same year, French naturalist Émile Oustalet named that particular zebra species “Grévy’s zebra” in honor of the president.
7points
#15
In the early 20th century, German colonial officers in East Africa tried to hit two birds with one stone by using zebras for driving and riding — with little success. Zebras are incredibly difficult to domesticate due to their unpredictable nature, and their flat backs aren’t ideal for a human to ride.
7points
#16
Zebras are herbivores. Specifically, they feed on grasses, leaves, and stems of bushes. Chewing wears their teeth down, so those teeth keep growing all their lives. When the dry season comes, zebras travel to find food elsewhere; that’s why most species are considered nomadic.
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6points
#17
While not very fast (they can run at about 40 mph), zebras are incredibly dynamic and lean on their agility and stamina to outmaneuver faster predators. They can run in a zigzag pattern in order to confuse attackers and evade most predators.
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6points
#18
Ever wondered why zebras have stripes? There are many reasons behind it, but the most interesting is the phenomenon of disruptive coloration. To a lion, a herd of zebras doesn’t look like a bunch of individual animals gathered together but rather a huge camouflaged striped mass, making it hard for the predator to choose a specific zebra to attack.
6points
#19
Zebras are not picky eaters. Instead of just munching on short grass, they eat a wide variety of grasses, leaves, and young trees. As a result, they can roam much farther than many other species, often venturing into woodlands. They are known as pioneer grazers, preparing plains for other species of grazers that require shorter, more nutritious grasses.
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6points
#20
The Grevy’s zebra has a low survival rate among its young. Habitat loss, competition for resources, and hunting by humans have reduced the population of this specific species by 54% in 30 years. Grevy’s zebras are listed as endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species, the most comprehensive data archive about the global conservation status of biological species.
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6points