The zebra’s name comes from the Portuguese who first described this “wild ass” in Zaire 500 years ago. No two zebra stripes are alike. The colouring is not actually meant to be a camouflage, although it does serve to confuse predators, who find it difficult to single out one animal from the mass of stripes. In the heat of the day a zebra will stand, like a springbok, rump to the sun to reduce exposure.
Zebras’ habit of remaining close
to wildebeests benefits both animals, as the zebras’ sense of smell, sight and
hearing is an early warning system against predators, while the carnivores’
preference for wildebeests is an inverted safety valve for the zebra.
Although zebra stallions, patrolling the perimeter
of family herds and thus exposing themselves to the greatest danger, are very
protective when predators are near, they are capable of spectacular infighting
when it comes to dominance, ego and the opposite sex.
Stallions can clash in spectacular displays of
flailing hooves as they rear, wrestle, kick and lunge at each other with barred
teeth and slashing hind and forelegs. They will even drop to the sand on their
forelegs and spar ferociously, raking each other’s neck with slavering jaws.
As for the cheetah, bathed in the warm colours of
late afternoon, a San Bushman legend tells of a much more dignified
characteristic. There was a race the story goes, to discover which was the
fastest animal on earth, the cheetah or the tsessebe of the grasslands. As they
ran, the speedy antelope was just inching ahead when it tripped and fell. The
cheetah stopped to help and as a reward for this kindly gesture, God granted
the cheetah the right to be the fastest creature in the desert.
Know more about us: www.superbafricasafaris.com
Follow us on twitter: https://twitter.com/SuperbAfrica
Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/superbafrica.safaris
No comments:
Post a Comment