Nutrition

Since Grevy's zebras live in arid shrub and grassland, they are predominantly grazers. In stressful situations, such as a drought, they are known to eat browse (twigs, leaves of trees, and shrubs). Browse can comprise up to 30% of their diet in these situations. Although zebras prefer to drink daily, adults can tolerate two to five days without water, but lactating females can only go one to two days without replenishment.

Grevy's zebras have a caecal digestive system (non-ruminant) which requires high food intake, favoring quantity over quality. A diet of Kenyan grasses, legumes, and browse provides all the minerals required by the zebras. Legumes provide more protein and phosphorus, but less fiber, than grass or browse. Browse has a good amount of calcium in it as well.

Mixed herds graze away from water in the early morning, rest in the shade during mid-day, and return to water in the mid-afternoon. They graze away from water overnight. When grazing, Grevy's often make an open arc formation which enables them to watch for predators and be less competitive in feeding.

But who do Grevy's share their nutrients with?

Grevy's zebras share their habitat and associate for mutual protection from predators with wildebeest, beisa oryx, waterbuck, kudu, eland, and the giraffe. They also live in certain areas of Kenya with plains zebra, or Equus burchelli, pictured watering to the right. Clip Art: zebras drinking [NOTE: These are not Grevy's zebra, instead plains zebras]

Zebras bunch when alarmed and the closer they bunch the greater the apprehension. Watering involves potential danger from predators, such as l ions and hyenas, or interactions with larger animals such as elephants (more specifically the A frican elephant) or cape buffalos. Watering is herd activity because of these threats.

Alarmed Grevy's zebras give deep, hoarse grunts which carry well and resemble those of lions. They may also whistle or squeal when alarmed, fighting, or in pain or fearful.