There are three species of zebra in Africa, and the plains zebra is the most common. They live on grasslands and savannahs in large herds, often mixing with wildebeest and other grazers. A zebra herd is led by a single male called a stallion, who protects a group of females and their foals.
Scientists have long wondered why zebras have stripes. The most popular current explanation is that the stripes confuse biting flies — insects seem to find it difficult to land on a striped surface. Stripes may also help zebras recognise each other, since every pattern is different. When a herd runs together, the swirling stripes make it hard for predators to focus on just one animal.
Zebras are herbivores that eat mainly grass. They often graze alongside wildebeest because the two species complement each other — zebras prefer the taller, tougher grass tops and wildebeest eat the shorter, more nutritious grass underneath. This means there is enough food for both without them competing.
Botswana sees one of Africa's great zebra migrations each year. Thousands of zebras move between the Okavango Delta and the Makgadikgadi Pans following the rains and fresh grass. Foals are born with brown stripes that darken as they grow, and they can run within an hour of being born.