Page 28 - World of Animals - Issue #30

Plains zebra

A zebra mother’s love

Raising a child is dangerous when your home is an exposed plain and hungry lions are circling

Humans talk about saving activities for a rainy get to its feet. The first few days are spent the time their first foal is ready to be weaned

day, and that’s exactly what zebras do when it establishing a close bond between mother their second arrives. The interval between
comes to breeding. The rainy season provides and baby, memorising each other’s scent and births can be up to two years, however, and

an influx of lush greenery to support a female appearance. The 30-kilogram (70-pound) foal lower ranking females tend to wait longer
when she has a newborn to care for. Zebras soon trots along with its family and spends between pregnancies than dominant zebras.

usually have a single foal, and sadly, if twins the first year of its life suckling from its mother Males don’t play a hands-on (or hooves-
are conceived the mother will often miscarry and learning what it takes to survive. Almost on) role with female foals but interact with
before the end of the 12-month pregnancy. as soon as they are weaned, foals leave their young males. They provide an example as to
Like most other herbivores, zebra mothers natal group. Female foals are quickly snatched what leading a harem involves and learning
don’t take any chances when giving birth. A up into harems when they are a year old, but crucial male social behaviour. Thankfully, the

pregnant zebra separates herself from her herd males will spend up to four years play-fighting leading male gives parental care in the form

and finds a secluded spot to bring her baby and learning the skills it takes to set up their of protection from predators. The entire group
into the world. This is the most vulnerable to own harem. works to protect young zebras, and are known
attack she will be in her entire life. Zebra reproduction is so efficient that to form a protective circle around injured or

The new arrival emerges and crumples in a females are able to get pregnant again almost vulnerable members. This is especially true of
sticky heap on the ground. After a thorough immediately after giving birth. They are fertile plains zebras that kick and bite predators until
cleaning from its mother the foal is able to all throughout their lactation and sometimes by they retreat from a foal.
“A pregnant zebra separates

herself from her herd and finds
a secluded spot to bring her
baby into the world”

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