International Zebra Day was observed on Friday, January 31, with conservationists celebrating the resurgence of Cape Mountain zebras, once on the brink of extinction. Yet, the broader picture remains concerning, with plains zebras declining and the Grévy’s zebra populations stable but critically low.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the plains zebra population has dropped by 25% since 1992, now classified as “Near Threatened.” The Grévy’s zebra, once found in Somalia and Sudan, is now extinct in those countries, with only 3,100 individuals remaining in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Despite this, targetted conservation efforts have led to a remarkable recovery of Cape Mountain zebras, which once numbered fewer than 80 individuals. Today, their population has surpassed 3,200.

Charlene Bissett, regional ecologist at SANParks, attributes this success to the Mountain Zebra National Park (MZNP), established in 1937 to protect the subspecies.

“The park has enabled the translocation of zebras to multiple protected areas, strengthening population growth,” she said in a press release.

While Grévy’s zebras remain endangered, conservationists see some hope.

Jamie Gaymer, conservation manager at Ol Jogi Conservancy in Kenya, stated: “The Grévy’s population has stabilised, but at fewer than 3,100 individuals, their future remains precarious.”

Zebra populations continue to face severe threats which include habitat loss due to urban expansion and agriculture, poaching and illegal hunting for meat and hides, climate change-induced droughts, limiting food and water availability and human-wildlife conflict as zebras compete with livestock for resources.

Zebras are vital to ecosystem health, feeding on tough vegetation to maintain plant biodiversity and serving as prey for predators. Conservationists stress that protecting them requires habitat preservation, stronger anti-poaching measures, and sustainable tourism.

IOL