Zebras

                      The Wild Ass    

The name "zebra" comes from the Old Portuguese word zevra which means "wild ass".

Every zebra has a unique pattern of black and white stripes.

Zebras  care deeply about their group members. When a group member is wounded by a predator attack, other zebras will come to its defence attempting to drive the predator(s) away.

Zebras  will only go to sleep if they are close to neighbours so that they can be warned if a predator approaches.

When zebras are grouped together, their stripes make it hard for a lion or leopard to pick out one zebra to chase.

Mother zebras are very caring and protective mothers. Infant zebras  are able to stand, walk and suckle shortly after birth, and will continue to drink their mother’s milk for the first year of life.

Zebras stand up while sleeping.

Romans called Grevy's zebras 'hippotigris' and trained them to pull two-wheeled carts for exhibition in circuses.

Zebras communicate with each other through various vocal expressions including sniffing and balking, but also through the position of their ears and tail.

They can turn their ears in almost any direction and harness this ability to communicate their mood, for example pulled backwards when angry, or standing erect when calm and friendly.

The female zebra typically gives birth to one foal after a gestation period of about one year. When a foal is born the mother keeps all other zebras (even the members of her family) away from it for 2 or 3 days, until it learns to recognize her by sight, voice and smell.

Habitat :Savannah, plains, and mountainous areas(Eastern and southern Africa)

Diet: Herbivores

Height : 4- 5 feet

Length:  7 –9 feet

Adult male: stallion
Adult female: mare
Adolescent female: filly
Adolescent male: colt
Young: foal

Life Span :12 years