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International Zebra Day

Today is International Zebra Day

With their iconic black-and-white stripes, zebras are widely recognized, yet they are often underestimated beyond their striking appearance.

Members of the horse family, zebras possess exceptional hearing and eyesight, can sprint up to 70 km/h (43 mph), and deliver kicks powerful enough to deter apex predators. Their distinctive stripes, however, serve a purpose beyond aesthetics.

Zebras’ stripes provide a critical defense mechanism—camouflage through confusion. When herds move in unison, their striping creates a dazzling optical illusion that makes it difficult for predators such as lions and hyenas to single out individuals. Each zebra’s pattern is as unique as a human fingerprint, enabling researchers to identify individuals in the wild.

Despite their presence across African landscapes, zebras face increasing pressures. The three extant species—plains, mountain, and Grevy’s—occupy diverse habitats, ranging from the Serengeti’s grasslands to Namibia’s rocky slopes:

🦓 Plains zebras are the most adaptable and numerous, with a population estimated in the hundreds of thousands.

🦓 Mountain zebras have a more specialized, fragmented range. Once on the brink of extinction, they have rebounded to around 35,000 thanks to dedicated conservation efforts.

🦓 Grevy’s zebras, the largest and most distinctive with their thin stripes and mule-like build, are also the most imperiled. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as endangered, with fewer than 2,000 mature individuals remaining.

Habitat loss, poaching, and competition with livestock have all taken their toll.
The quagga, a subspecies of the plains zebra, was not so fortunate. Hunted for its meat and hide, this once-common zebra vanished in the late 19th century, with the last known individual dying in an Amsterdam zoo in 1883.

Today, conservationists are working to ensure history does not repeat itself.

Zebras, though resilient, are not invincible. Their habitats are increasingly fragmented by fences and human settlements, and conflict has further exacerbated their decline. While national parks and breeding programs have provided some respite, significant challenges remain.

Understanding and appreciating zebras beyond their stripes may be key to securing their future.

By Rhett Ayers Butler

Rhett Ayers Butler is the Founder and CEO of Mongabay, a non-profit conservation and environmental science platform that delivers news and inspiration from Nature's frontline via a global network of local reporters. He started Mongabay in 1999 with the mission of raising interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife.