International Zebra Day 2024: 7 Interesting Facts About The Animal

International Zebra Day, celebrated on January 31, aims to enhance public awareness regarding methods through which these creatures can be conserved. Here are some interesting facts about zebras.

International Zebra Day 2024 (Image Source: Getty)

1. Zebra Stripes Are Most Likely a Form of Pest Control: Zebras are shielded from biting flies due to their distinctive stripes. Researchers made a comparison between zebras and horses, their closest living relatives, and observed that horses experienced a significantly higher rate of fly bites than zebras in identical conditions. This observation led scientists to conclude that the remarkable stripes on zebras serve a purpose beyond mere decoration. (Image Source: Getty)

2. They Are Social Animals: Zebras are highly social animals and usually travel in large groups which provide protection against predators, as the multiple eyes and ears make it easier to detect danger. (Image Source: Getty)

3. Unique Prints For Each Species: Three different species of zebra can be found in East and South Africa. The plains zebra, Grevy’s zebra, and the mountain zebra. Each of them has its own general stripe pattern, and more impressively, individuals have a unique stripe pattern. (Image Source: Getty)

4. Great Eyesight: Zebras have excellent eyesight and are one of the few mammals that can see in colour, but they cannot see the colour change. (Image Source: Getty)

5. They Bite And Kick: Zebras exhibit surprising aggression as they resort to biting and kicking, particularly when defending themselves against predators, protecting their offspring, or engaging in male-to-male competition for a female. These tactics serve as their primary means of defense and conflict resolution. (Image Source: Getty)

6. They Are One Of The World's Fastest Land Animals: Zebras stand out as one of the world's swiftest land animals due to their remarkable speed and agility. Their long, slender legs facilitate rapid movement, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 58 kph. This agility proves advantageous, especially when outpacing predators like lions. Additionally, zebras demonstrate endurance, providing them an edge over many ambush predators, provided they can evade the initial attack. (Image Source: Getty)

7. Zebras Have A Good Sense Of Smell: Apart from excellent eyesight which includes night vision, zebras have a sharp sense of smell, taste, and hearing. (Image Source: Getty)