Notes

Zebras live in the grasslands of Africa. These horse family members are probably best known for their distinctive stripes and black and white coloring. When zebras are born, they are brownish-black and white. As they grow, they develop their stripe pattern. No one knows for certain why zebras have stripes. Zoologists have several theories, though. They believe the stripes offer zebras protection from predators in at least two ways. Zebras spend most of their time eating in the grasslands. They eat the tall grass, as well as bark, leaves, buds, fruits, and roots. Zoologists believe that their stripes act as camouflage while they are moving about the grassland.
This theory might not seem to make sense at first. After all, a zebra’s stripes stick out like a sore thumb. But consider that the zebra’s main predator, the lion, is color-blind. Then consider the wavy lines of a zebra’s stripes. These wavy lines blend in with the tall grass. It’s not the color of the zebra stripes that protects it, but the pattern of the stripes. A zebra grazing in the grasslands can be completely overlooked by a lion. Another means of protection has to do with their herds. Zebras usually travel in large groups, in which they stay close. In tight groups, the pattern of each zebra’s stripes blends in with the stripes of the zebras around it.
This is confusing to a predator. All it sees is a large, moving, striped mass. A lion has trouble singling out one zebra. While zebra’s stripes may be indistinguishable from other animals, they help zebras recognize each other. Stripe patterns are like fingerprints. No two patterns are alike. Zoologists believe this is how zebras keep their herds together.
Zebras can tell which zebras belong to their herd and which do not by their stripe patterns. A zebra mare and her foal can also keep track of each other in the large herd. Stripe patterns are helpful to zoologists as well. Stripe patterns help them track particular zebras in the wild so they can study their behavior. Today, zebras face an uncertain future in the wild.
Many are hunted by humans for their meat and hide. The hunting of zebras must be stopped. Zebras are also at risk because food and water supplies are shrinking. They must fight with farmers for grazing land and water. One species of zebra, the quagga, has already died out. Humans must make sure this does not happen again. *