Zebras

Zebras prefer to eat the tips of grass blades because they’re the most nutritious part!

Zebras can survive on grass so tough that even well-equipped grass eaters like wildebeest avoid it!

A zebra’s digestive system is so efficient that they can get enough water from the grass they eat to survive several days without drinking!

Zebras use their strong upper lips to grab and pull grass before cutting it with their teeth!

In the dry season, zebras will dig up to three feet (one meter) deep to find water underground!

Baby zebras start eating grass when they’re about a week old, but continue drinking their mother’s milk for up to a year!

There are over 500,000 plains zebras living in the wild today!

The Grevy’s zebra is endangered, with only about 2,000 left in the wild!

Climate change is affecting zebra migration patterns by changing where and when they can find grass and water!

Zebras are protected in many African national parks and reserves!

Mountain zebras were once down to less than 100 individuals but have now recovered to over 35,000 thanks to conservation efforts!

A zebra’s striped coat helps regulate their body temperature by creating small air currents that cool them down!

Zebras have a special reflective layer in their eyes that helps them see in the dark!

A zebra’s teeth are curved inward, which helps prevent them from developing gaps as they wear down!

Zebras have a special muscle in their ears that allows them to move each ear independently!

A zebra’s hooves grow about 6 inches (15 centimeters) per year — that’s like having to buy new shoes every month!

The hair on a zebra’s stripes grows in different directions, which helps create air currents for cooling!

A zebra’s stripes are actually black with white stripes, not white with black stripes!

Zebras have special blood vessels near their skin surface that help them cool down in hot weather!

Mountain zebras have a special dewlap (a fold of skin) on their throat that plains zebras don’t have!

Grevy’s zebras have much narrower stripes than plains zebras!

Plains zebras in the north tend to have broader stripes than those in the south!

Some zebras in warmer regions have fainter stripes than those in cooler areas!

Mountain zebras have a grid-like pattern on their rump that other zebra species don’t have!

Zebras living in woodlands often have darker stripes than those living in open grasslands!

Some zebras in South Africa have a brownish “shadow” stripe between their black stripes!

The stripes on a zebra’s legs are usually horizontal, while those on their body are vertical!

Zebras living at higher altitudes tend to have thicker coats than those living in lowland areas!

The spacing between zebra stripes varies depending on which part of Africa they come from!

Zebras often form mixed herds with giraffes, who can spot predators from far away!

Oxpecker birds ride on zebras’ backs, eating insects and warning them of danger!

Zebras help maintain grasslands by eating old grass and making way for new growth!

Young zebras sometimes play racing games with young ostriches!

Zebras can recognize the alarm calls of other animals and know when to run from danger!

Zebras help spread plant seeds across the savanna through their droppings!

Different zebra species sometimes form mixed herds with each other!

Zebras have been known to adopt young ones from other herds if they’re orphaned!

Zebras sometimes stand back-to-back in pairs to watch for predators in all directions!

Baby zebras will sometimes follow other large animals if they get separated from their mothers!

Ancient Romans called zebras “tiger-horses” and used them in circus shows!

The first zebra to arrive in Europe was given as a gift to the Holy Roman Emperor in the 1260s!

People once thought zebras were white horses that had been painted with stripes!

In World War I, some ships were painted with black and white stripes like zebras to confuse enemy submarines!

The extinct Quagga was a type of zebra that was only striped on the front half of its body!

Zebras spend the early morning grazing when the grass has the most moisture!

Zebras spend the early morning grazing when the grass has the most moisture!

A zebra herd takes turns sleeping, with some always staying awake to watch for danger!

Zebras visit water holes at different times each day to avoid predictable patterns that predators might learn!

Zebras spend about 2-3 hours each day grooming themselves and each other!

Young zebras practice running and kicking every morning to build their strength!