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Plains Zebra

Equus quagga

Quick Facts

Scientific name: Equus quagga
Class: Mammal
Weight: 440 to 660 pounds
Diet: Herbivore
Lifespan in the wild: 20 to 25 years
Lifespan in professional care: Up to 37 years
Conservation status: Near threatened
Number of offspring: 1 young at a time

About

I LIVE IN AFRICA

Plains zebras live in the savannahs and grasslands of eastern Africa in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia.


I AM AN HERBIVORE

As grazers, zebras will mostly consume various types of grass. However, they have also been known to eat leaves and bush stems occasionally.


PLAINS ZEBRAS ARE SOCIAL

Plains zebras are very social animals and will live in small family groups. Zebras have been known to live in groups of several thousand individuals, even then they will maintain familial bonds with other zebra they are related to.


ONE IN A MILLION

To the human eye, every zebra’s stripes may look the same. However, a zebra’s stripes are much like fingerprints, each zebra has a set of stripes that is completely unique to them


HELPING THE PLAINS ZEBRA IN THE WILD

The plains zebras at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo are enrolled in the Species Survival Plan (SSP). SSP is a program implemented by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to help ensure a genetically viable population exists.


I AM IMPORTANT TO MY ECOSYSTEM

Zebras are important within their ecosystem because they will often eat the hardened grasses that are too tough for other grazers to eat.


 

Conservation

Learn more about our efforts, our conservation partners around the world, and the simple steps you can take to contribute.

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