Appearance

The distinctive stripes of the Burchell's zebra run diagonally and lengthways on the rump
and continue on to the belly. On the rump there are usually chestnut or yellowish
"shadow" stripes in the middle of the white stripes. Like human fingerprints and irises,
each individual has a unique stripe pattern.

The muzzle is black. A short, stiff mane runs down the back of the neck and the tail has a
whisk of long black hair on the end.

Behaviour
Active in the cooler early morning and late afternoon. Drinks at least once a day and has
a strong preference for clean water.

Stallions fight viciously for control of females. Males that do not hold breeding herds join
bachelor herds with hierarchy depending on age.

If threatened by predators, herds flee in tight bunches. Herd stallions defend their groups
by running in the rear as they flee, kicking and biting attackers.
Predators are much more successful if an individual zebra can be separated from the herd.
The contrasting black and white stripes may help to confuse predators.

Reproduction
Single foals weighing 30-35kg (66-77lbs) are born at any time of year after a gestation of
360-390 days. Foals can stand after about 10 minutes, start eating grass within a few days
and wean at 11 months.

Lions and spotted hyenas take adult zebras; foals are taken by lions, spotted hyenas,
leopards and cheetahs.

Diet
Prefers short, green grass but will eat tall, coarse growth. An unselective bulk feeder, the
zebra is less sensitive to food quality than other large herbivores and can maintain good
body condition on very poor veld.

Sounds
The alarm call is a high-pitched, repeated two-syllable "kwa-hi". The sound is typical of
the African bushveld and the colloquial name "quagga" is derived from it.

The Zebra is a part of the horse family, Equidae, native to central, eastern and
southern Africa. They are most well known for their distinctive black and white
stripes. The most common type of zebra is the Plains Zebra.

Plains zebras flourish in huge herds upon open grasslands and semi-desert areas of
Africa. They share habitat with antelope, which do not compete for food. Also, mixing
of herds may help protect them from predators such as lions and hyenas with power
in numbers.

Grant's zebra is one of several sub-species of Plains zebras. These zebras average 53
inches in height and weigh between 500 and 700 pounds. It is distinguished from
other Plains zebras by the presence of leg striping down to the hooves and broad
stripes on a white background.

Stripes

Zebra’s stripes are an excellent camouflage because lions (zebras main predator) are
believed to be color blind. Confusion is another defense mechanism. Zebras cluster
together to confuse would-be predators with their stripes when they feel threatened.

Some scientists suggest that stripes act as a cooling system through a process
called convection. As the zebra stands in the sun, the black stripes grow to be 10
degrees Celsius hotter than the white stripes. A special layer of fat beneath black
stripes insulates the zebra, allowing it to withstand the higher temperature. Heat
causes air to circulate: sweaty hot air rises off the stripes and is replaced by cooler,
dryer air. Like a fan, the evaporation of sweat cools the zebra.

Behavior
Zebra are more active during the day. They graze an hour or more at night. While
sleeping at night one member of the herd will remain alert for predators. In the
morning the herd may travel a distance of 10 miles before settling down for the
nights grazing and rest.

Zebra are very sociable. Each species has a different social structure. Zebra fights
often become very violent, with the animals biting at each other's necks or legs and
kicking. While stallions may come and go, the mares stay together for life. They exist
in a hierarchy with the alpha female being the first to mate with the stallion and
being the one to lead the group.

Like horses, zebras sleep standing up and only sleep when neighbor are around to
warn them of predators. Zebras communicate with each other with high-pitched
barks and brays.

Food and foraging

Zebra are very adaptable grazers. They feed fedd mainly on grasses but will also eat
shrubs, herbs, twigs, leaves and bark. Plains zebras are pioneer grazers and are the
first to eat at well-vegetated area. After the area is moved down by the zebras, other
grazers follow.

Zebras in Danger

Grevy's and mountain zebra have suffered large declines in numbers and loss of
habitat and are threatened with extinction. Unlike the other zebra species, Grevy's
zebras do not have permanent social bonds. A group of these zebra rarely stays
together for more than a few months. The foals stay with their mother, while the
adult male lives alone. Because they do not live in groups, Grevvy’s zebra are
vulnerable.
Tiger, the largest member of the cat family. Tigers live in forests, savannas, and swamps
in Asia. They are classified into five subspecies—Bengal, Chinese, Indochinese, Siberian
(Amur), and Sumatran. Three subspecies—Bali, Caspian, and Javan—are believed to
have become extinct since the 1940's.

Tigers range in length from about five feet (1.5 m) to more than nine feet (2.7 m),
excluding a two- to three-foot (60- to 90-cm) tail. They weigh from about 200 to 660
pounds (90 to 300 kg). The body and tail are encircled by vertical stripes that are black,
brown, or gray. The background color ranges from reddish-orange to almost white.
Occasionally completely white or completely black specimens are found.

Tigers are solitary and territorial animals; territories are between 7 to 65 square miles (20
to 180 km2) in size. Within this area, a tiger may have a number of dens in caves, hollow
trees, and dense vegetation. Tigers hunt primarily at night, feeding mainly on large
mammals, such as wild cattle, antelope, and deer. A tiger stalks its prey, crawling silently
until within striking distance; then it leaps at the victim and kills it by strangulation or by
biting its neck. Some tigers have been known to regularly hunt and eat humans, but most
will attack only if threatened or wounded.

Mating occurs most frequently from November to April. Usually two or three cubs are
born after a gestation period of about 100 days. The newborn cubs weigh two to three
pounds (0.9 to 1.4 kg). The tigress cares for the young until they are able to fend for
themselves—after about 12 to 18 months.

Tigers can interbreed with lions. A tigon is a hybrid between a male tiger and a female
lion; a liger, between a male lion and a female tiger.

Tigers are highly endangered. There are probably fewer than 8,000 in the wild. Although
tigers are now protected by law, they are often hunted for their pelts. Many are also killed
illegally for their bones and other body parts, which are used to make folk medicines.
Habitat destruction is another threat to tigers. Several nature reserves for tigers have been
established.

How Big Is a Tiger?

An average adult male tiger weighs about 420 pounds (190 kilograms) and is 9 feet (2.7
meters) long, including its tail. That means that an adult male tiger can be bigger than an
adult male lion. But a tiger can grow even bigger than that. The Siberian tiger is the
largest wild cat of all. It can weigh nearly 800 pounds (360 kilograms) and measure up to
13 feet (4 meters) long, including its tail.

Siberian tigers are not only bigger than their relatives that live to the south, but their coats
are different, too. Siberian tigers grow thick, shaggy coats that help keep them warm
during the long, cold winters of the far north. And just like other tigers, Siberian tigers
have coats with stripes.

Why Are a Tiger’s Stripes Important?

A tiger’s stripes camouflage (KAM uh flahzh) the tiger, or help it blend in with its
surroundings. The dark brown or black stripes can cover a tiger from its head to the tip of
its long tail. But no two tigers have the same pattern of stripes.Tigers live in all types of
forests, wetlands, and grasslands. Because of their stripes, tigers hunting in these habitats
can’t be seen by their prey. This helps tigers be very successful predators.

Despite their huge size, tigers are silent and sneaky hunters. Tigers mostly hunt large
prey, such as wild pigs and deer. Sometimes, they even hunt young rhinoceroses and
elephants. They often hide near rivers and ponds, waiting for prey to come for a drink.
Tigers are also excellent swimmers. They sometimes chase prey out into deep waters to
make a kill.
The tiger is Panthera (or Neofelis) tigris of the cat family, Felidae.

Lion, a large meat-eating animal of Africa and India. The lion is one of the largest
members of the cat family. Because of its noble, dignified bearing the lion is known as
the “king of beasts.” Lions have long been popular zoo and circus attractions and can be
taught many tricks. Most lions in circuses and zoos were either born in captivity or were
captured as cubs.

Lions seize prey with their powerful jaws.

Lions are found in many parts of Africa. They are most abundant in grassland areas
where game is most plentiful; but they also are found in rocky, semidesert regions. The
once abundant Asiatic lion formerly roamed the northern half of India; today, only a few
hundred individuals, virtually all of them living in a wildlife sanctuary in the Gir Forest,
survive.

Within historic times lions lived throughout western Asia and in Greece and other parts
of southeastern Europe. Before the last great Ice Age they lived in southern Europe and in
what are now France, Germany, and the British Isles.

The mountain lion of North America is not a lion, but a cougar.

How Many Kinds of Lions Are There?

Lions that live in Africa are called African lions. Those that live in India are called
Asiatic lions. These lions may go by different names, but there is only one species, or
kind, of lion.

Thousands of years ago, lions could be found over much of the world. They lived in
Africa, Europe, Asia, and even North and South America. Lions probably disappeared
from many regions when forests grew too thick, their prey became extinct, and humans
overhunted them. Today, the only lions that live outside of Africa are found in one area
of India.

Lions that live in Africa and India belong to the same species. But there are differences
between them. Lions living in India are smaller than those living in Africa. They also
have smaller manes. Because of these slight differences, these two forms of lions are
often called by different names.

Facts in brief about lions Names: Male, lion; female, lioness; young, cub; group,
pride.Gestation period: About 3 1/2 months.Number in litter: 1 to 6, usually 2 or 3.Length
of life: 20 to 25 years, in captivity; in the wild, 15 to 20 years.Where found: Africa south
of the Sahara; the Gir Forest of India.Scientific classification: Lions belong to the class
Mammalia, and the order Carnivora. They are in the cat family, Felidae. Their scientific
name is Panthera leo.
Giraffe, the tallest living animal. It is a ruminant (cud-chewing mammal). It lives in dry
savannas of Africa, south of the Sahara. A related animal, the okapi, inhabits the forests
of the upper basin of the Congo River.

Giraffes are the tallest living

animals.
Where in the World Do Giraffes Live?

Giraffes live only in Africa. They are found south of the Sahara (suh HAIR uh). They live
in open grasslands with scattered trees and shrubs. For safety, giraffes usually stay away
from thick forests. The many trees there can slow them down if they have to run quickly
from a lion.

There is only one species, or kind, of giraffe. But not all giraffes are the same. There are
eight different groups of giraffes. Each group of giraffes has a different coat pattern. The
pattern is a clue to which group a giraffe belongs to.

Different groups of giraffes live in different parts of Africa. For example, Masai (muh
SY) giraffes live in eastern Africa. Nigerian (ny JIHR ee uhn) giraffes live in central and
western Africa. Transvaal (tranz VAHL) giraffes live in southern Africa.
The average female giraffe is about 15 feet (4.6 m) high, but some males grow to a height
of more than 18 feet (5.5 m) and may weigh as much as 1 ½ tons (1,360 kg). The legs are
long, and a giraffe cannot lower its head to drink without spreading its forelegs apart.
Giraffes, although often described as voiceless, have vocals cords and, on occasion, make
low moaning or bleating sounds.

How Tall Can a Giraffe Get?

Giraffes are the world’s tallest animals. An adult male grows about 17 feet (5.2 meters)
high. That’s almost as tall as three grown men standing on each other’s shoulders. Female
giraffes reach their full size by about age 5. Males are fully grown by about age 8. By
then, everything about a giraffe is big. Its legs are 6 feet (1.8 meters) long. So is its neck.
An adult male giraffe weighs about 2,600 pounds (1,800 kilograms).

A giraffe’s tail is about as long as a yardstick—3 feet (91 centimeters). Add the hairs at
the end of the tail, and the length doubles. A giraffe’s tongue is about 21 inches (53
centimeters) long.

Adults of both sexes have “horns”—skin-covered projections of bone on the forehead.

Males often have a second pair of horns behind the main ones, and some old males have a
fifth bony knob between the eyes. The giraffe has a long tail with trailing, coarse black
hair. The coat has dark reddish to chocolate brown splotches on a buff-colored
background. It serves to camouflage the giraffe in foliage. The neck is up to seven feet
(2.1 m) long and contains seven elongated vertebrae. Special valves in the neck regulate
the flow of blood to the head. The tongue is long and flexible and is used to pluck leaves
from acacia, mimosa, and wild apricot trees. Giraffes are able to store water in their body
tissues and can go without it for long periods. Their body temperature, unlike that of most
mammals, is not constant. Instead, it rises during the heat of the day, eliminating the need
to sweat or pant and thus conserving water.

What Is Special About a Giraffe’s Coat?

All mammals have fur or hair on their bodies. Giraffes are no exception. But a giraffe’s
coat is special because it is like a fingerprint. Each giraffe has its own distinct pattern.
Even within the same group of giraffes, no two coats are identical. A baby giraffe can
recognize its mother by her unique coat pattern.
 A giraffe uses its long tongue to reach
high for leaves.

The giraffe has keen sight and hearing. It can run up to 29 miles per hour (47 km/h) and
can usually outrun predators. Giraffes have been known to kill lions, their principal
enemies, by kicking with their powerful legs. Giraffes were formerly killed by hunters for
their hide and meat. They are now protected by law and most are found in game
preserves.

Giraffes live in herds of 12 to 15 individuals, led by an adult male. The mating season is
from July to September. The female gives birth to one young (called a calf) about 450
days after mating. The young are able to stand within 20 minutes after birth. The average
lifespan of a giraffe is 15 to 20 years.

The giraffe is Giraffa camelopardis of the family Giraffidae. (The species name refers to
its camel-like body and leopard-like spots.)
Zebra, a horselike animal of Africa. Zebras are white or creamy with black stripes. The
zebra is about the size of an ass, or donkey, and has a large head, long ears, narrow feet, a
tufted tail, and a short, erect mane. Zebras are grass-eating herd animals and are fleet-
footed, able to attain a speed of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). Lions often prey on zebras.

Zebras have black stripes and are about

the size of a donkey.

The mountain zebra is about four feet (1.2 m) tall at the shoulder. Burchell's zebra, or the
common zebra, which has no stripes on its tail and legs, grows slightly taller. Grévy's
zebra grows to be four and a half feet (1.4 m) tall. The mountain zebra and Grévy's zebra
are both endangered because of indiscriminate hunting. Zebras are protected by law and
can be found in most major zoos.

Is That a Horse with Stripes?

No, it’s a zebra! But your guess is a good one, because the zebra is a member of the horse
family. Like a horse, a zebra has an odd number of toes on each foot.

A zebra’s entire body is covered with stripes. A zebra’s stripe pattern, like a giraffe’s coat
pattern, is unique. No two zebras have stripes that look exactly the same.

Zebras live in the deserts and grasslands of Africa. They stay together in large herds for
protection. When an enemy sees a large group of stripes, it gets confused. Zebras also
have good night vision to spot danger in the dark.

The mountain zebra is Equus zebra; Burchell's, E. burchelli; Grévy's, E. grevyi. Zebras
belong to the horse family, Equidae.