The Grévy’s zebra, also known as the imperial zebra, is the largest living wild equid and the largest and most threatened of the three species of zebra, the other two being the plains zebra and the mountain zebra.
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Grevy’s zebra was the first of the zebra species to evolve after asses. Taller, narrow stripes, a white belly, black dorsal stripe, large rounded ears and a brown muzzle the Grevy’s zebra is easily distinguished from the more common plains zebra. These two species overlap in the southern range of Grevy’s zebra and the northern range of plains zebra.
Grevy’s zebra occupies the niche between the water-dependent plains zebra and the arid-adapted wild ass, living in arid and semi-arid habitat comprised of grass and shrubland with permanent water available. Predominantly grazers, Grevy’s zebras live on forbs and grasses but during extremely dry periods they also browse.
Grevy’s zebra can go without water for up to 5 days. With land degradation worsening each year, the distance between available grazing and water increases, meaning that Grevy’s zebra mums have to make long and more frequent journeys, resulting in high foal mortality, which is one of the major threats to the survival of the species.
Closer to an ass than a horse, their social system is adapted to their arid and semi-arid ecosystem. Breeding males reign over territories of up to 10 km2 in size, which they have established with the interests of the females in mind: water, forage, and the strength and power of the male to watch out for her safety. What more could a female ask for? Depending on her breeding condition, a female has different resource requirements.
When she is lactating, she needs to be closer to water and therefore those males who have water within their territory will be more successful at breeding. Grevy’s zebra males who haven’t yet reached breeding age hang out in bachelor groups.