Recognizable by its striking black and white stripes, this species is Africa’s most widespread and successful grazer, thriving in a variety of habitats and climate zones across the continent. From the lush tropical savannas to the more temperate grasslands, the Plains zebra has carved out a niche that spans diverse environments.
Water plays a pivotal role in the life of the Plains zebra, making them a water-dependent species. Their distribution across the African continent is closely tied to the availability of water sources, reflecting their need for hydration and the role water bodies play in the ecosystems they inhabit. The savanna habitats, ranging from open woodlands to grasslands with varying heights, provide not only the sustenance these zebras need but also the space for their social structures to flourish.
Speaking of social structures, the Plains zebra is highly sociable, forming family groups known as harems. These groups typically consist of a single stallion, several mares, and their juvenile offspring. This social organization underscores the Plains zebra’s complex social dynamics and the importance of family units in their survival and reproduction strategies.
Historically, Plains zebras roamed freely across virtually all African countries, a testament to their once vast numbers and the extensive range they occupied. However, recent decades have seen a concerning decline in their populations in 60% of their range states. This decline is attributed to a combination of overhunting and habitat loss, challenges that threaten not only the Plains zebra but countless other species across the globe. Of the six recognized subspecies of Plains zebra, one has already been driven to extinction due to relentless hunting pressures in the late 19th century, a stark reminder of the impact human activities can have on wildlife.
Distribution
Angola
Botswana
Official estimate
Burundi
Official estimate
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Official estimate
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Official estimate
Kenya
Official estimate
Lesotho
Official estimate
Malawi
Official estimate
Mozambique
Namibia
Official estimate
Rwanda
Official estimate
Somalia
South Africa
Official estimate
South Sudan
Tanzania
Official estimate
Uganda
Zambia
Official estimate
Zimbabwe
Official estimate
Did you know?
- Plains Zebra are listed as Near Threatened, with around only 250,000 mature individuals. There has been a 25% decline since 1992.
- Today, in many countries, they are restricted to only protected areas, with almost no individuals outside PAs.
- Subspecies have overlapping ranges, and they do not interbreed.
- Habitat fragmentation by fences, roads, and other development projects squeezed zebra populations into small pockets of land, preventing migration between herds.
- Migration is necessary to add new genes (genetic diversity) responsible for the long-term survival of a healthy population of species.
- Near Uganda’s Lake Mburo (where migration is restricted by fragmentation), an unusually high number (around 5%) of plains zebras are found abnormally striped due to genetic mutations.
- East African plains zebras are hunted for their skins, as they do not have the shadow stripe present in southern African subspecies.
- Ecologically, they are pioneers of the grazer community, i.e., they make habitats suitable for other grazers.
Anything we've missed?
Help us improve this page by suggesting edits. Glory never dies!
Suggest an editGet to know me
Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
Zebra on banknotes
