Grant’s Zebra

Grant’s zebra are the smallest subspecies of plains zebra. They have shorter legs and only grow to be about 4 feet tall at their shoulders. While they may be smaller, they can still weigh up to 700 lbs. Grant’s zebras have the signature black and white stripes covering their body and continuing into their short, upright mane. Their stripe pattern is distinguishable from other species of zebra, as their stripes will partially fade down their sides and legs. Additionally, they can have faint light brown stripes that appear within their white stripes called “shadow stripes.”

Grant’s zebras are found in parts of southeastern Africa. They can be found from northern Zimbabwe all the way to Sudan. They inhabit open grassland and savanna, especially those with scattered trees. Zebras play an important role in the stability and dynamics of the grazing communities where they live. During the dry season, the movement of zebra herds help to aerate the soil and stimulate new plant growth. Their grazing techniques help to increase the quantity and quality of the vegetation in their ecosystem.

Grant’s zebras are herbivores. They primarily graze on the grasses available in the savanna throughout the day, spending up to 19 hours per day grazing. Occasionally they will browse on herbs, leaves, and twigs.

Since zebras are the only grazers with both upper and lower incisors, they can snip blades of grass rather than yanking them out. This removes old growth and exposes the tender grasses underneath for others to consume.

Grant's zebras are a social animal that can be found in herds of up to 17 individuals. They live in harems consisting of one to two males, with the rest of the herd being females. These females will generally stay together as a familial herd, with the dominant male changing every few years. The females in the harem have strong relationships and establish a dominance hierarchy amongst themselves. Mares give birth in private foaling spots, and spend some time alone with their foal to bond before returning to the herd.

Zebra herds maintain close bonds, even during extended annual migrations with thousands of other zebras and wildebeest. These migrations happen as a result of seasonal changes in the availability of food and water. During the dry season, water sources dry up and grazing land becomes scarce, requiring herds to move to new areas in search of new resources. There is strength and safety in numbers, helping keep zebras protected from predators and increasing their chances of finding food and water.

Zebras are polygynous, meaning one male stallion leads and mates with a harem of females. Male-male competition is not significant. Once males obtain a female, there seems to be a 'gentleman's agreement' between the stallion that this female has been taken and cannot be lured away. When males do compete, they will bite, kick and circle their opponent. They will also groom and show affection towards females while courting. Peak breeding occurs during the rainy season. Under ideal conditions, a female may produce a foal every year. Gestation can last up to a year.

Grant’s zebra are a subspecies of plains zebra. Currently, plains zebras are listed as Near Threatened IUCN. Their biggest threat is habitat loss. With an increase in agricultural lands, much of the plains zebra historic range has been taken over.

• Zebras' stripe patterns are unique to each individual- almost like a human fingerprint!
• Zebras are known for their recognizable black-and-white stripe patterns, and scientists have put forward at least 18 reasons why these patterns evolved, from camouflage to individual identification, to insect deterrents and even thermoregulation.
• In recent years, scientists have noticed more plains zebras with odd patterns on their coats. In Kenya’s maasai Mara National Park, a foal named Tira was spotted with a dark coat covered in white polka dots instead of the zebra’s trademark stripes.
• While areas fenced off for agricultural purposes can block migration corridors, these zebras have been shown to re-establish migration routes if the barriers are removed, even if they were blocked for over 30 years.

The Oakland Zoo’s two zebras, Beetlejuice and Beaker, have lived with us since 2017. They were both brought in from Safari West in Northern California. Beaker was born in 2015, making him the older of the two, and has taken on the more dominant role. Beetlejuice was born in 2016 and is slightly larger than Beeker. Both zebras have worked hard with the keepers to get comfortable with tactile inspections and blood draws. These voluntary behaviors are important to work on as they can help us keep up with their health and wellness in a stress-free manner.