The A - Z April Challenge: Z...and Reflective Weekend & Camera Critters

You may know by now that a very special corner of my heart is reserved for Africa alone. This challenge has allowed me to share with you just a few of the reasons I love it so.....

I'm going to miss my daily visit.

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Z is for Zebra

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The distinctive black and white stripes that characterize zebras come in patterns unique to each individual. Unlike their closest relatives, the horse and the ass, zebras have not been fully domesticated, though humans continue to try, capturing them for display in zoos all over the world.

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Plains Zebra

Africa is home to three species. The Plains or Burchell's Zebra, and the Grevy's Zebra are found in East Africa, while the Mountain Zebra is native to southern Africa. 

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The Mountain and Grevy's Zebras are on the endangered list,

 as over time, their numbers have been drastically depleted by drought, poaching and competition from livestock. 

 On the other hand, the Plains Zebras shown here are so plentiful that permits are freely sold to hunt them. The Zebra skin you see in furniture and rugs generally comes from this species. Nonetheless, one subspecies, the Quagga, has already faced slaughter to the point of extinction and poaching for meat and hide is an ongoing threat to their numbers.

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Although adjusted to semi-arid conditions, these grazers are in constant search of green pastures, joining in the Great Migration north come dry season. We frequently came across zebras at waterholes, especially in the morning and evening when they're most active.
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Zebras are highly social, living in groups comprised of a stallion with a number of females and their foals. Foals develop as strong a bond with their fathers as they do their mothers.

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These family groups remain close over many years, mutually grooming and nibbling each other's necks as a form of bonding. Family members look out for each other, even adjusting the herd's pace to accommodate the old and the weak.

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When one of their number is hurt, the group encircles the injured animal to keep it safe and will defend it to the death. The earth would lose much were these intelligent equids to be wiped out..
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Grevy's Zebra

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 For more A - Z posts, be sure to pop by Arlee Bird's site and see what others have done with the letter Z...
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http://www.tossingitout.blogspot.com/2011/01/very-special-and-exciting

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I'm linking this post to Weekend Reflections, hosted by James at Newton Daily Photo. Drop by for a visit...you'll be glad you did...

http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/
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I'm also linking to Misty Dawns's Camera Critters, always a page worth checking out!
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http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/