Gallery
  • Register
English Afrikaans Chinese (Simplified) French German Italian Portuguese Spanish

Zebra

Equus zebra zebra

Zebras exist in a harem structure. The dominant male will establish a territory and thenceforth attract the females. A male zebra can have between four to seven "wives" and a consequent hierarchy is created between the females.

One of the most popular debates, and a particularly tongue-in-cheek argument in South Africa, is whether the zebra is black with white stripes or white with black stripes. The answer is the former. Furthermore, each zebra is unique as no two coats are identical – quite like human fingerprints – and their coats assist in camouflaging them from predators. Lions are one of their natural predators, but zebra are capable of killing them with a powerful kick. The herd will also come to the defense of an attacked zebra, circling it in order to drive away the threat. Hyenas are another common predator.

Zebras are grazers, feeding mostly on grass. When a foal is born, the mother will keep all other zebras away from it, until it learns to recognise her by sight, sound and smell. The foals also become close to their fathers, but leave the herd when they are between one and four to join a bachelor group of males until they are strong enough to head their own family.

 Zebras (/ˈzɛbrə/ zeb-rə or /ˈziːbrə/ zee-brə) are several species of African equids (horse family) united by their distinctive black and white stripes. Their stripes come in different patterns unique to each individual. They are generally social animals that live in small harems to large herds. Unlike their closest relatives, horses and asses, zebras have never been truly domesticated.

There are three species of zebras: the plains zebra, the Grévy's zebra and the mountain zebra. The plains zebra and the mountain zebra belong to the subgenus Hippotigris, but Grevy's zebra is the sole species of subgenus Dolichohippus. The latter resembles an ass, to which it is closely related, while the former two are more horse-like. All three belong to the genus Equus, along with other living equids.

The unique stripes of zebras make these among the animals most familiar to people. They occur in a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, savannas, woodlands, thorny scrublands, mountains, and coastal hills. However, various anthropogenic factors have had a severe impact on zebra populations, in particular hunting for skins and habitat destruction. Grevy's zebra and the mountain zebra are endangered. While plains zebras are much more plentiful, one subspecies, the quagga, became extinct in the late 19th century, though there is currently a project, called the Quagga Project, that aims to breed zebras that are phenotypically similar to the quagga in a process called breeding back.

source: wikipedia

Animals

  • FLAMINGOS

    Phoenicopterus

    Extremely sociable and nomadic, flamingos live together in large flocks numbering in the hundreds. The large groups serve as protection, as...

  • Wildebeest

    Connochaetes taurinus

    Literally translated wildebeest means "wild beast", but they are fairly docile creatures if there is enough food in the region. They migrate...

  • Springboks

    Antidorcas marsupialis

    Springboks hold a special place in the heart of every South African as it is the country's national animal and the name of their national rugby...

  • Buffalo

    Syncerus caffer

    The buffalo may come across as peaceful and passive at times. They are, in fact, very dangerous and unpredictable. They use their horns for...

#Inverdoorn Twitter

"Each species is a masterpiece, a creation assembled with extreme care and genius." - Edward O. Wilson

Inverdoorn Inverdoorn

INVERDOORN Game Reserve
Big 5 Safari
1200 Free-Roaming Animals
Iziba Safari Lodge
5 stars Luxury Lodge
21/2 Hours from Cape Town

Why choose Inverdoorn?

Amongst the wonders of Nature exists a splendid place situated in the magnificence of the vast open Karoo landscape, Inverdoorn Game Reserve & Iziba Safari Lodge. The 10 000 hectare property is a resourceful and stylish 'oasis' destination, only a 2.5-hour drive from Cape Town city centre.

Exclusive Cheetah interactions

Inverdoorn offers guests the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really get to grips with a cheetah through its Exclusive Encounters package that allow guests to spend time interacting with the cheetahs through stroking, petting and giving the cheetahs water. Guests who opt for the five-star luxury accommodation packages automatically enjoy the one-on-one encounters while an optional extra package is available to other overnight guests and even day visitors. Learn More...