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| Common Name: | Grevy's zebra | Family: | Equidae |
| Latin Name: | Equus grevyi | Diet: | Herbivore |
| Type: | Mammal | Habitat: | Grasslands |
| Native To: | Africa | Social Unit: | Group |
| IUCN Red List Status: | Endangered |
Grevy’s zebras at Edinburgh Zoo
Edinburgh Zoo has adult breeding male Grevy’s zebra named Frank and a breeding female named Emily. In September 2008, Emily gave birth to Flo. Then in September and November 2009, first a female, Lois and then a male, Alingum, were born. Grevy's zebra births are particularly important, as the Grevy’s zebra is listed as endangered, with only 1,500 to 2,000 remaining in the wild. They are the largest of the zebra family and as a result are preferred by both predators and human hunters alike.
The Grevy’s zebra is 50% larger that the more common plains zebra; it also has closer, thinner stripes and a different social system to the plains zebra. In the wild, adult male zebras hold a territory, usually round a watering hole. The African Plains exhibit at Edinburgh Zoo has a man-made watering hole to create the perfect zebra territory.
A male zebra will share his territory with other animals; at Edinburgh Zoo, Frank shares his enclosure with lesser kudu and nyala antelope, but he will not share with other breeding male zebras!
Zebras like to interact with their surroundings by taking dust baths, grazing for most of the day, or if there is a young zebra, they like to play.
Where it can be found at Edinburgh Zoo
Our Grevy’s zebras can be found in the African Plains exhibit, in the upper north-eastern tip of the park.
Grevy’s zebras in the wild
Grevy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) can be found in northern Kenya with one tiny residue population of about 100 animals in Ethiopia. Unfortunately, the Ethiopian animals are expected to disappear soon. However, there is conservation work being done in Kenya to help this species to survive in the wild. The Lewa reserve is one of the strongholds, with over 450 Grevy’s zebra there.
Grevy’s zebra are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) as being Endangered, meaning that this species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
The threats to the Grevy’s zebra include competition for grazing and water resources from local cattle, donkeys and plains zebra; high predation rates by lions and humans; and diseases such as anthrax. At the moment there is reckoned to be 1,750 individual Grevy’s zebra left in the wild.
Breeding programme: EEP
IUCN Red List Category: Endangered
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