International Zebra Day – January 31

International Zebra Day

January 31 is International Day of the Zebra!

This exists for one purpose; to raise conservation efforts for these amazing, animals.With their natural environment diminishing and increasing human development, these gentle animals are in danger. International Zebra Day is all about raising awareness and what the people can do to help in the conservation of this animal.

Any of three species of strikingly black-and-white striped mammals of the horse family Equidae (genus Equus): the Plains Zebra (E. quagga), which is found in rich grasslands over much of eastern and southern Africa; Grevy’s Zebra (E. grevyi), which lives in arid, sparsely wooded areas in Kenya and a few small areas in Ethiopia; and the Mountain Zebra (E. zebra), which inhabits dry upland plains in Namibia and a few scattered areas in western South Africa. The Plains Zebra is made up of six subspecies include Quagga(quagga, which is extinct). The Mountain Zebra is made up of two subspecies. IUCN lists the Grevy`s Zebra is endangered, the Mountain Zebra as vulnerable and the Plains Zebra is nearly threatened.

Zebras are closely related to domestic horses. They are large single-hoofed ungulates built for speed and long-distance migrations. Zebras typically stand about 120–140 cm at the shoulder. Male Grevy’s Zebras are larger than females; in the Plains Zebra and the Mountain Zebra, the sexes are nearly the same size. Zebras exhibit no other sexual dimorphism except for males having spade-shaped canines used in fighting. The teeth of all three species are adapted for grazing. Unlike many ungulates in Africa, Zebras do not require short grass to graze. Instead, they eat a wide variety of different grasses, sometimes even eating leaves and young trees. As a result, they can range more widely than many other species, often venturing into woodlands.

– Source: Internet –