Distribution:  Originally ranged throughout East Africa: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Kenya and Tanzania.  Now reduced to several thousand and confined almost entirely to northern Kenya.

Habitat:  Inhabits acacia/commiphora thornbush country and barren plains with preference for tracts of grass growing on sand and hard pans.  Seasonally waterlogged plains are big part of range.  Depend on well-watered highlands during dry season, but where grazing and water are adequate, don’t migrate.  Often associate with giraffe, eland, oryx and common zebra.   

Food and Feeding Methods:  A grazer specializing in tough grasses not exploited by other grazers but take browse when grass is gone.  Can go without water for up to 5 days.

Social Behavior:  Open society in which a mare and her latest 1 or 2 offspring are the central unit, territorial, migratory.  Fewer than 10 mares and their offspring will congregate into unstable herds (smaller in dry season) with no established rank.  Mature males (over 6 years) maintain grassy territories near water in the wet-season range and provided water sources last, some will remain during the dry season until females return at the beginning of the rains when most breeding takes place within territories.  Territorial stallions tolerate subordinate males when no females are around and even mix with bachelor herds or socialize with territorial neighbors.  When estrous females are present, they will not tolerate invasion of other territorial males but will merely keep bachelors at safe distance rather than trying to chase them off their territory.

Males maintain large dung middens, common latrines, to mark territorial boundaries.  The resident male actively seeks the company of females visiting his territory by displaying a proud posture with arched neck, high-stepping gait and loud braying.  All classes may join together in mixed herds of 100 up to 450 during migration or around water during dry season.  Within these mixed herds, classes tend to associate in sub-groups:  mares with foals in nursing groups and males in bachelor groups of about 2 to 6.  Where ranges of common and Grevy’s zebra overlap, it’s not unusual to see both species in same herd.

Reproduction:  Most breeding occurs early in the rainy season.  Single foal is born after a gestation period of about 13 months.  Babies have a brown and white coat that gradually darkens and gives way to black and white coloring of adults.  Foals take first water at 3 months and are weaned by 6 months.  Colts remain with mothers for up to 3 years but are relatively independent by 7 months.  Females breed at 3 years and males not before 6 years.  Can live up to 24 years.
 
Status:  Species has seen one of the fastest reductions in range and numbers of any large African mammal, declining over most of its range over the past century (70% of total population in Kenya was lost between 1977 and 1988).  Decline continues due to increase in livestock farming, leading to exclusion from traditional watering places and use of limited grazing by sheep and goats.  Increased use of irrigation for agriculture is also reducing water available for zebras.

Adaptations:  Widespread Grevy-like fossils suggest that the current species descended from a generalized and formerly widespread species.  It is possible that competition from other equine species has resulted in the limited distribution of the Grevy that is wedged between arid-adapted wild asses and water-loving common zebra.  A slow birthrate, limited ability to go without water and attachment of males to territories have all worked against this species.

Head/Body Length:          8 - 9 ¾ ft.                               Tail Length:   1 ¼ - 2 ½ ft.   
Shoulder Height:         4 ½ - 5     ft.       
Weight:                          840 - 995 lbs. (male)   775 - 885 lbs. (female)

The Zebra’s Apparel

These were the early days when the Earth was young.  The land was very hot and dry.  In this shimmering new world, water could be found only in a few small pans scattered around the desert.

At one such pan the Baboon stood guard, claiming that he was the owner.  "No one may drink here, for this water is mine alone!" he declared, chasing away all who came to drink.

He had built a fire close to the pool so that he could protect his water during the bitterly cold desert nights. 

One day the Zebra came to quench his thirst after a very long and tiring journey.  In these early days the Zebra had no stripes.  He wore a dazzling coat of pure white fur.

The Baboon jumped up angrily.  "Who are you? Go away!" he screamed, "I am Lord of this water.  It is mine!"

The Zebra was in no mood to listen to this selfish Baboon.  "This is not your water, you ugly monkey!  It belongs to everyone!" shouted the Zebra.

The Baboon was furious and said that if he wanted the water he must fight for it.  The two were soon engaged in a fierce struggle.  Locked in combat, they rolled back and forth around the pan.  Finally the Zebra gave one mighty kick and the Baboon was sent flying high up into the rocks behind the pool.

The Zebra had kicked so hard that he lost his balance.  Staggering back into the Baboon's fire, he sent the burning sticks flying up in the air.  These left black scorch marks all over his fine white coat.  Hurt and frightened, he galloped on to the plains where he has remained ever since.  Eventually he came to like his new apparel which made him stand out, distinguished amongst the other animals.

However, the Baboon had landed on his buttocks, with a mighty thud, amongst the hard rocks.  He has remained in the kopjes ever since, nursing his bald red bottom and still as angry as ever