THE MOST INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ZEBRAS IN UGANDA

 Did you know that zebras sleep while standing? When you think about rare creatures in the world, zebras may not even feature in the list. As most wild animals are forced to look for where to sleep at the end of day, zebras and elephants simply sleep as they stand something rare among most wildlife species! If you are planning your wildlife safaris and you are confused about where to go to in Africa, there is no need for you to be confused any more. Uganda is such a gifted wilderness destination for you to catch a glimpse of vast and unique species while in their natural habitat, most of which include the zebras. Zebras are exceptionally stunning with black and white stripped wild creatures. The Uganda zebras are both a beauty queen and at the same time a mystery. Stripes are on the bodies of zebras is another amazing thing that differentiates them from the rest of wildlife, given the fact that no two zebras have the same pattern. You can only get this distinction when you are very close to them.

A DAZZLE OF ZEBRAS

The amazing fact is that stripes have inspired fashion trends across the world today, however for the zebras, it naturally wears them naturally and they are more for protection rather than fashion. These stripes are a camouflage that helps them to hide away from the predators especially the lions and leopards. It is hard for the predators to distinguish zebras from another herd. There is also a belief that these stripes scare off insects. The stripes have for long been a mystery and there are numerous ideas that have been put forward explaining why their skins are stripped. Uganda is incredibly a zebra country. They are found in various national parks that support Uganda safaris and mostly in Lake Mburo National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park which offer the most spectacular zebra encounters. Despite Kidepo Valley National Park being the most isolated national park, it provides the best zebra views while you are on safari in Uganda given the large number of zebras that can be sighted while they graze in savanna grasslands. The Burchell’s zebra can be sighted in small groups, within much larger family herds. However, the rare bit of it about zebras is worth exploring while on Uganda safari.

ZEBRAS

Characteristics of zebras

Zebras belong to the horse family; they are single hoofed, social animals that thrive in small or large herds. Bachelor males either stay alone or with groups of other bachelors till they are enough to challenge a breeding stallion. When they are attacked predators a group of zebras huddle together with the foals in the middles while the stallion tries to ward them off.

They sleep while standing up just like the horses and they are fond of grazing together which helps in their grooming process. They depend on grass and also shrubs, twigs, leaves, bark and herbs. Zebras interact with one another at a high pitched barks and whinnying. Their ears symbolize their mood for instance when surveying an area for predators, zebras will stand in an alert posture with ears up and head held high, as they stare. They will snort each time they are tense and will bray or bark loudly when they sight a predator. Females carry their young ones for about 12 to 14 months. The foals contain brown and white color at birth and they are in position to stand up and walk on their own just after they are born. The young ones depend on mother’s milk, in their first year. Zebras become mature at 3 to 6 years and have a lifespan of about 25 years. While females mature faster than the males, a mare may have her first foal by the 3 years and males are not in position to breed till 5/6 years.

They can run up to 65 km per hour in a zigzagging motion and have exceptional stamina especially when they are trying to evade predators that chase them. When they are in a herd, their distinctive stripes merge into a big mass that makes it hard for the predators to single out the individual animals despite the fact that they are poorly camouflaged.

There are 3 zebra species-the Grevy’s, mountain and plains. The plains zebra is divided into 6 sub species while the mountain is divided into 2 (two). Their stripe coats tend to radiate over 70% of the sun heat and the stripes also appear like fingerprint with each individual’s pattern appearing unique.

In conclusion, zebras are unique on their own. They largely support wildlife safaris in most of safari destinations in Africa. In Uganda, they can be viewed while you are on safari in Kidepo Valley National Park and Lake Mburo National Park.