Page 26 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Plains zebra

Unbreakable bonds

What influences a zebra’s everyday decisions

Zebras live in permanent family groups and form strong bonds with
those closest to them. Each unit is made up of a male, or stallion, up
to six females and their young, all subject to a strict hierarchy. The
stallion takes the top spot, foals are at the bottom of the heap and
each female has her own rank in between, mostly determined by age.
However, where a zebra is in her reproductive cycle can affect who
is in charge of the group. Females that are producing milk to support
babies need more energy than those without foals and have been
observed taking the leading role in transit. The group typically travels
in single file in a particular order; the dominant female leads the

harem followed by her lower-ranking friends and the male guard
walks behind. Zebra groups are vulnerable to predator attack and
it is the stallion’s job to protect his family.
Young male zebras live in bachelor groups after they leave
their families. These rarely grow to more than 16 members,
sometimes including older males that no longer live with
a family. Zebras are extremely social and rely on being
around others, so unattached males will stick together
in any eventuality.
These striped equids strengthen their family ties
by grooming one another, and this mostly takes
place between stallions and their favourite females
or mothers and their favourite foals. The pair
stand side by side and groom each other’s head,
neck and back.
Zebra families often come together during
their annual migration journeys that can reach
over 500 kilometres (300 miles) – the longest
migration of any land mammal. This round
trip spans several African countries
and involves thousands of individuals
searching for greener pastures. Such
a long trip means the herd must
get along. When males meet, they
perform a polite greeting ritual where
they sniff one another’s nostrils, bodies
and tails, but females aren’t so cordial,
and those from different harems can
be aggressive towards each other.
RIGHT
Young males will
o en play-fi ght, biting

each other’s knees
and manes

“Zebras are extremely social and

rely on being around others,
so unattached males will stick

together in any eventuality”

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