The Grevy′s zebra is often described as a proud, noble looking equid. So it is no surprise that it was named after a president. In the late 1800s Yohannes IV, the King of Abyssina (now Ethiopia) presented a Grevy′s zebra as a special gift to the president of France, Jules Grévy. The Grevy′s zebra was named after the esteemed leader.

Physical Description-Adult
The trait that Grevy′s zebras are known for are their stripes. Adult Grevy′s zebras have narrow black and white stripes that cover most of the body. These thin stripes are very noticeable on the legs. The underside (chest and belly areas) are white. The eyes of a Grevy′s Zebra are large, and dark chocolate brown. Long whiskers lightly cover the muzzle. They have a stiff mane that stands upright and extends down to the base of the neck. Their tail has a tuft of hair at the end. Grevy's zebras are strong animals. Their bodies, necks, and legs are stout and muscular, with thick joints. An alarmed zebra can sprint at a speed of 40 mph for a short time.

The average adult height is 1.4 1.5 meters (4.5 to 5 feet) at the shoulder. Male and female Grevy's zebras differ slightly in weight. In general the males (380 - 450 kg or 770-880 lb) are slightly larger than the females (350 - 400 kg or 836-990lb). The average male weighs 430 kg or 950 lb, while the average female weighs 385 kg or 847 lb.

Physical Description-Foals
Newborn Grevy′s zebras are called foals. The newborns are capable of standing 6-14 minutes after birth. They are able to walk within half an hour after birth, and are running within 45 minutes. Foals have brown and white stripes at birth, and do not begin to change to adult coloration until about four months. Their mane continues down the back and to the base of the tail. Foals continue to nurse for 8-13 months, but they are relatively independent after seven months.

Life Cycle
Grevy′s zebras have, an approximate 22 year life span. When they are three to four years old both males and females reach sexual maturity. When females reach sexual maturity, they begin going into heat or estrus. They have a two to nine day estrus period every 19-33 days. During estrus, they are receptive to mating for about two to three days. Males will only mate with females that are receptive. Male Grevy's zebras have a very interesting way to test for receptivity. They taste the females urine. This process is called flehmening and it allows males to tell if a female is ready to mate.
In their natural habitat, mating usually occurs October through November. After a gestation period of about 390 days, birth occurs. Typically only a single offspring is born. The births usually correspond with rains and revitalized grass growth. Giving birth during the wet season insures that there will be adequate vegetation and water for the developing foals. However, mating and births can occur at any time of the year if the conditions are right. It is possible a wild Grevy's zebra mare to give birth nine to ten times during her lifetime.
Behavioral Description
Looking for food occupies most of a Grevy′s day. Herds spend at least 60% of their days grazing. This may increase up to 80% when food or water becomes scarce. Grevy′s zebra herd size is determined by environmental factors. The herds are dominated by a single leader called a stallion. While there are no lasting bonds made between adults, but there are strong bonds between a mother mare and her foal. Mares provide parental care and are very protective of their foals. Despite this strong bond, a mare may be forced to leave her foal unprotected in search of water during the dry season.

Stallions mark the boundaries of their territories with dung piles. They keep these territories well-maintained. When a stallion's females are in heat, (estrus) the male aggressively defend his territory against other invading males. Their instinct to maintain their territories continues even after many of the females and other males leave the area. Stallions will not leave their territories until it has become uninhabitable. Immature males and males without herds of their own will sometimes form bachelor herds.

Male Grevy′s zebras have several vocalizations, but the most interesting call is an alternating roar/whistle. This call is made much like humans make sounds with a harmonica. The sound produced by the exhale is quite different than the sound produced by the inhale. When the male Grevy′s Zebras exhales, it makes a deep resonating roar. On the inhale, it produces a shrill whistling sound. Stallions and other males use these vocalizations to announce their presence and help establish their territories.

Habitat Description
The Grevy′s zebras is an African plains animal living in the savanna biome. Their preferred habitat are grasslands, shrub lands, mixed grass and shrub land, or semi-desert. If these specific habitats are not available, Grevy′s will choose brush lands, thickets, or areas where their preferred habitats are mixed with trees. While some Grevy′s Zebras do live in forested areas and crop lands, this is not a strong environmental preference.

Environmental Interactions
Grevy′s zebras play an important role in the web of life, both as consumers and as prey for other species. The herbivorous Grevy′s zebra is a primary consumer that eats mostly types of grasses. One of their favorites is digit grass. Digitaria is one of many grasses that grows in Kenya. They also consume leaves and bark from trees like acacia and commiphora and small shrubs like acylpha frutticosa.

On the African plains there are many herbivores living in the same habitat. To minimize competition between species, these herbivores specialize and feed only on particular parts of the vegetation. Grevy′s zebras eat the taller, larger, and older vegetation. These parts of the plants are not as nutritious as the younger, smaller parts of the plants. This explains why the Grevy′s zebra spend so much time grazing. They need to consume large quantities of this low-nutrient food. When Grevy′s Zebras feed on these less nutritious parts of the plants, it clears the way for smaller grazing animals to eat the younger, more nutritious growth closer to the roots.

The Grevy′s zebra have three main predators: lions, hyenas, and leopards. In most cases, these predators will attempt to take the young, old, or sick Grevy′s Zebras rather than the healthy adults.

Status in the Wild:
IUCN 2000: Endangered.
(1976) CITES: Appendix I. USFWS:
Endangered.

Population Estimates: World estimate: Perhaps 5000, 1993.
Ethiopia: 1980, About 1500.
Kenya: 1988: 4300.

Historical Range(Maps are approximations)
The Grevy′s zebra was found in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. In Ethiopia it occupied the Awash Valley, to the Ogaden region, and northeast to the Lake Turkana (Lake Rudolf). Its range extended south into Kenya, east of the Rift Valley and Lake Turkana, north of Mount Kenya and the Tana River, and east into western Somalia.

Modern Range
In Kenya, Grevy′s zebras occur in much of their former range. The range is east of the Rift Valley and Lake Turkana (Lake Rudolf), north of Mount Kenya and the Tana River. It has not been seen in Somalia since 1973 and is presumed to be extinct there.

Conservation Information
Threats: The historic human threat to the Grevy′s zebra existence has been poaching for meat and skin. Grevy′s Zebras experienced a significant decline in the 1970's, apparently due to poaching by those who wanted to obtain hides. The modern threat is the loss of grazing habitat and access to water. Most of the quality grazing land and reliable water sources are increasingly being used for domestic livestock. Additional threats are the Grevy′s Zebra sensitivity to domestic horse diseases, and an even further reduced water supply due to crop irrigation.

Conservation Efforts:
African governments are attempting to provide habitat protection in the form of African national parks and reserves. Meru Sibiloi National Park and Samburu-Isiolo National Reserve are two examples of these reserves. There area also on going captive breeding and research efforts: For hundreds of years Grevy′s zebras were favorites of zoos and zoo visitors simply because of their beautiful coat patterns and impressive stature. Zoos and other institutions are now carefully managing their captive populations. This management does not come without considerable expense and hard work. From the keepers who provide the daily care to the zoo veterinarians who keep tabs on their health and wellness, modern scientists are beginning to improve the management of the Grevy′s zebra.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) is implementing a Species Survival Plan (SSP) for the Grevy′s zebra. The SSP is an attempt to preserve the genetic lines, balance, and diversity within a captive zoo population of about 250 animals. To the best of their ability, the SSP managers help to insure that the captive Grevy′s zebra population will maintain its wild characteristics and genetic variation. Captive Grevy′s Zebras are often studied by researchers in an effort to assist with the management and care of both captive and wild Grevy′s zebras. Researchers that study captive zebras hope to add to the scientific body of knowledge about the Grevy′s zebra and its care. The data collected can be extended to the captives' wild counterparts and assist with their conservation. If there comes a day for reintroduction back into their native habitats, the measures taken now will give the Grevy′s zebras a good chance for survival.