The name Zebra is derived from the Italian and Portuguese names given to the species in Zaire. It evolved from an early horse line that dates all the way back 60 millions years, but the Zebra only emerged in the early Pleistocene 2 million years ago.
Equipped to deal with long grass and short flush, the Zebra is often the pioneer in front of the antelopes, as in the case of its association with the wildebeest in the migration (called the grazing succession). Burchells Zebra have ‘harems’ consisting of 2-6 fillies. They first start ‘abducting’ these fillies when they leave the herd at 5 yeas old and then they mate with the fillies when they come into estrus (up to 5 days) monthly. There are strict rankings amongst females as there are between the bachelor herds of males. Gestation lasts 1 year and weaning takes 11 months.
After wildebeest, zebra are the most numerous in the annual migration and can be found throughout the Maasai Mara, although being water dependant animals they are never too far from water.
Longevity more than 20 years
