Grévy’s Zebra
IUCN
EN
Basic Information
Scientific classification
- name：Grévy’s Zebra
- Scientific Name：Equus grevyi
- Outline：Ungulata
- Family：Equidae Equus
Vital signs
- length：Head–body 240–300 cm; shoulder 135–160 cm
- Weight：350–450 kg (males heavier)
- lifetime：12–18 years in the wild; longer in managed care
Feature
Largest wild equid; male territorial system; drought‑tolerant long‑distance movements; white belly, very narrow stripes.
Distribution and Habitat
Arid/semi‑arid grassland–shrub mosaics of N Kenya and S Ethiopia, centered on permanent water sources.
Appearance
Fine black‑and‑white striping, white belly, large rounded ears; tall erect mane; tufted tail tip.
Details
Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest living wild equid, recognizable by itsvery narrow stripes, white belly and large rounded ears. Once widespread across the Horn of Africa, it is now restricted mainly to northern Kenya and parts of southern Ethiopia. IUCN status: Endangered (EN).
Ecology & Behaviour
Adapted to arid and semi‑arid rangelands; travels long distances to track water and green flush. Social organization ismale territorial, with females and foals moving among territories. Primarily a grazer but browses shrubs in drought.
Reproduction & Longevity
Gestation ~13 months, single foal; postpartum estrus within 1–2 weeks. Wild lifespan commonly 12–18 years, longer in managed care.
Threats & Conservation
Habitat degradation & competition from heavy livestock grazing and infrastructure near scarce water points.
Drought & climate variability reducing juvenile survival and body condition.
Hunting/harassment historically for skins; human–wildlife conflict persists locally.
Community conservancies and protected areas in Kenya and Ethiopia manage water, grazing coexistence, patrols and monitoring. Key sites include Lewa and the Samburu–Buffalo Springs–Shaba complex.
FAQ
Q1. How to distinguish it from plains zebra?
Grévy’s zebra has finer, denser striping, a white belly and larger rounded ears; plains zebra usually has belly striping and smaller ears.
Q2. Why is it listed as Endangered?
Small, fragmented population exposed to drought, competition with livestock and human pressures.
Q3. Does it depend on permanent water?
Yes. During dry seasons movements center on reliable water, increasing overlap with livestock.
Similar animals
Grévy’s Zebra
Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) is the largest living wild equid, recognizable by itsvery narrow stripes, white belly and large rounded ears. Once widespread across the Horn of Africa,it is now restricted mainly to northern Kenya and parts of southern Ethiopia. IUCN status: Endangered (EN).Ecology...
Indian Rhinoceros
Indian rhinoceros (greater one‑horned rhino, Rhinoceros unicornis) ranges across floodplains ofIndia and Nepal. After a dramatic 20th‑century decline, strong protection and habitat management have driven a sustained recovery,yet the species remains listed as Vulnerable (VU).EcologyPrimarily a...
Javan Rhinoceros
Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) is among the rarest large mammals on Earth.Once widespread across Southeast Asia, it now survives as a single wild population in Ujung Kulon National Park, Java, Indonesia,and is listed as Critically Endangered (CR). The species favors dense lowland rainfo...
Scimitar-horned Oryx
Scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) is a Sahel–Sahara antelope once widespread across North Africa.Heavy hunting and habitat loss caused its disappearance from the wild; it is now listed as Extinct in the Wild (EW).Since 2016, reintroduction projects in Chad have built free‑ranging, breeding he...
Black Rhinoceros
The black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), scientifically known as the black rhinoceros, is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) by the IUCN. It is primarily found in the dry scrublands and savannas of East and Southern Africa, where it feeds on shrub branches and leaves. It faces threats from poa...
Pseudois schaeferi
The blue sheep inhabits steep rocky slopes at an altitude of 2,700 to 3,200 meters, occasionally entering coniferous forests and forest open areas. The blue sheep may inhabit higher altitudes in the same area. Food includes grasses, low shrubs, lycopods and lichens, and they alternate between eating...
Tapirus
Tapir is the name of the genus Tapir (scientific name: Tapirus), a genus of the family Tapiridae in the order Perissodactyla. It is collectively called tapir, also written as 獏, and is a large forest-dwelling herbivorous mammal. There are four existing species, namely the mountain tapir, the South...
Email: jsset668#gmail.com (change # to @) Please indicate your purpose of visit! Guangdong ICP No. 2022053326 XML| map| Chinese
