Random Crazy Facts About Plains Zebra (12 items)

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  (#4) They Travel An Average Of 1,800 Miles Every Single Year

  Zebras are wise to the fact that power exists in numbers. While journeying along the Savannah, they often join forces with other species such as wildebeests. They are one of the most well-traveled animals on Earth; their annual 1,800-miles trek is the longest of any land mammal in Africa.
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  (#3) Zebra Foals Walk Within Minutes Of Being Born

  One of this wild equid’s awe-inspiring traits lies in its ability to grow from infancy to adulthood in under an hour, at least in respect to getting around. Astonishingly, a zebra infant, or foal, can walk within 15 minutes of its birth. By the time a full hour passes, that same foal will already begin running. Even with such an accelerated childhood, the foals face a 50% mortality rate. Those that survive have a lifetime of running ahead of them, so it's a good thing they receive such a head start.
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  (#12) Grevy’s Zebras Are Endangered And Their Population Has Declined 50% In The Last Two Decades

  Grevy's zebras, commonly found in Kenya, faces critical endangerment; its population has been in steady decline over the course of the past century. Habitat loss due to human intervention has been cited as the key underlying cause of their near extinction. Today, there are believed to be less than 2,500 Grevy’s zebras living in the wild. These majestic wild animals play a huge part in the local ecosystem and their very presence impacts insect populations as well, helping to balance out habitats. Fortunately, conservation efforts are underway.
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  (#6) Zebras Sleep Standing Up

  Zebras get their zzz’s in large, defensive packs. Since they only require about 2-3 hours per day, the packs usually sleep in shifts. The zebra can sleep standing up due to its locking knees. Even in slumber, the zebra’s fight-or-flight instinct remains armed and ready to rip.
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  (#1) Zebras Are Too Wild To Be Tamed

  From the point-of-view of these striped equids, domestication is for organisms who are boring, and ugly, and serious. Over the course of human history, zebras have proven difficult, nay, impossible, to tame. Their utter refusal to be broken not only is admirable, but also scientifically important. Living in the heavily predatory environment of Africa for millions of years lead to the zebra's aggressive behavior, a testament to the continent's accelerated rate of evolution. It appears cohabiting and competing with circle of life high-rollers like lions and leopards rubbed off on the herbivores, turning them into combative and resistant survivors.
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  (#10) There Are Human-Created Zebra Hybrids Called Zebroids

  If crazy zoo stories don't convince you of the zebra's victimization, then feast your eyes on the zebroid. Zebroids occur when scientists just have too much time on their hands and decide to start mixing and matching and mating animals in a Frankenstein-esque way. The end result is a funny looking, often infertile, dwarfed creature that doesn’t fit into regular zebra society, forced to live out its days in a cage.

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