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Zebra

A Plains zebra has rather broad stripes, especially towards its rump, with colour ranging from black to dark brown. There may be a brown ‘shadow stripe' between a black and white stripe.

Other zebra species differ: Grevy's zebra has narrow, closely spaced stripes over most of the body right to the hooves; and Mountain zebras have faint stripes between darker stripes.

Plains zebra are social animals. They form family groups of stallion, several mares and foals, and unattached males form bachelor groups. In seasonally dry areas such as the Serengeti in Tanzania, small families of plains zebra gather to form large herds. Staying together as families within the herd, they travel up to 800 km each year in an annual migratory trek that returns to the Serengeti.

Because of the prevalence of predators, Plains zebra are restless and alert, and very vocal. They make a barking sound. There is always a family member awake to watch out for predators.