The zebra is a highly social animal often living in small harems-large herds of stable family groups which are led by females. Stallions (males) watch the rear of the group in order to help protect them from predators. Families will sometimes merge to form large herds. These maintain their strong bonds by mutual grooming where zebras stand together and nibble the hair on each other’s neck and back. These bonds are far reaching and they may often look out for one that has gone astray or even reduce their pace to accommodate the weak and young during migration. The herd is always composed of females and their foals and one stallion. Bachelor herds are also formed by juveniles of 4 years and above that have not yet taken over the leadership of the group.
Unlike other species, the Grevy’s zebra has no permanent social bonds but rather mother zebras take care of their foals and the males live alone. Like the other species, the bachelor males form groups.
The gestation period of a zebra is 13 months and females reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 years while the males will breed at 5 or 6 years old. Mares give birth to single foals which are normally brown and white instead of black and white and are nursed for 1 year. The males leave their mothers to join the bachelor herds as the females stay in the herd. After producing, the mare keeps her foal away from all other members of the family for about 3 days until it is able to distinguish her mother from others.
The traditional African people were also not seated when the scientists were doing their research and therefore they also came with their own mythical explanations. For example according to a San folk tale of Namibia, the zebra was once all white, but acquired its black stripes after a fight with a baboon over a waterhole. After kicking the baboon so hard, the zebra lost its stability and staggered over a fire point, and the fire sticks left scorch marks all over its white coat making it stripped.
Also the Banyankole people of Uganda especially near L. Mburo national park believe that the existence of a zebra was as a result of a curse. The myth has it that there was once a very beautiful girl who was asked for a hand in marriage by a Muchwezi (former rulers of the Bunyoro-Kitara Empire) man and the lady turned down the offer. This prompted the demi-god to curse her hence turning into a Zebra. They believe that it is the reason why the zebra is beautiful with its magnificent stripes.
Where are Zebras Found in Uganda
In Uganda, the Zebra is found in only two national parks; Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo National Park.