Plains zebra

The plains zebra is a horse-shaped animal covered in bold black-and-white stripes. It lives on the wide, grassy plains of eastern and southern Africa. Zebras are a little smaller than a horse, with a round body, short legs, and tall, rounded ears that can turn to catch every sound.

The best thing about a zebra is its stripes. Every single zebra has its own special pattern, so no two look exactly the same, a bit like how every person has their own fingerprints. A newborn zebra, called a foal, starts life with a fuzzy brown-and-white coat, and its stripes slowly turn black and white as it grows up.

Zebras love to eat grass, and they spend much of the day nibbling their way across the plains. When the grass is dry, they may also eat leaves and twigs. Because they need to drink often, zebras usually stay close to rivers and water holes.

Zebras are very friendly animals that like to live together. They form small family groups made up of one father, several mothers, and their young. Sometimes many families gather into one big herd of hundreds of zebras, especially when they travel long distances to find fresh grass. Living in a group helps everyone stay safe, because lots of eyes and ears can watch for danger.

There are still many zebras in Africa, but there are fewer than there used to be. Some places where they roam are being turned into farmland, and they must share the grass with cattle and other farm animals. Many national parks now protect zebras and the open land they need, so these striped friends will keep galloping across the plains for a long time to come.