Grants zebra
- Class: Mammals (Mammalia)
- Order: Odd-toed ungulates
- Family: Horses & zebras (Equidae)
- Genus: Equus
- Species: Equus burchellii
- SubGenus: E. b. boehmi
Size
The zebra weighs between 225 and 300kg.
Ecology
The savanna at Borås Zoo is home to Grant’s zebra. In the wild it is a geographical subspecies of the plains i.e. Burchell’s zebra, and inhabits large areas of the east African savanna. They are found living in the vicinity of fresh bodies of water, as they require to drink from these daily.
As is the case with other wild horses, zebras live in herds and family groups and may join gnus to form larger, seasonal migrating herds.
Food habits
The zebra is a grazer, but also feeds on leaves, roots etc.
Longevity
Zebras are quite long-lived. Evading diseases and predators, they may reach 20 to 30 years of age.
Reproduction
The mare breeds generally every second year, and after a gestation period lasting between 11 and 12 months, it usually gives birth to a single foal.
Conservation status
Both the mountain zebra and Grevy’s zebra are highly endangered today, since increasing numbers of livestock compete with zebras and other wild animals for grazing areas outside the range of the feared tsetse fly.
The plains zebra fares better, but since as much as 70?% of the population exists in Kenya and Tanzania, future development of this region will have a direct bearing on these animals.
There are three species of zebra: the plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra and the mountain zebra. They all have the characteristic colouration pattern that set them apart from other African animals. Borås Zoo houses Grant’s zebra, a subspecies of the plains zebra.
Grant’s Zebra striping pattern is the boldest and the most complete, as other zebra species have narrower stripes. Researchers have recently suggested that these stripes serve mainly as a socialisation feature that allow individuals to recognise each other, thus leading to group cohesion.
