International Zebra Day Date in the current year: January 31, 2024

There are three extant zebra species: the plains zebra, mountain zebra, and Grévy’s zebra. Zebras are primarily grazers that can survive on low-quality vegetation, therefore they can live in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, savannahs, shrublands, woodlands, and even mountainous areas. Their main predator is the lion; other animals that prey on zebras include cheetahs, hyenas, leopards, Nile crocodiles, and wild dogs.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) classifies two zebra species as threatened (the mountain zebra is listed on the ICUN’s Red List as vulnerable and the Grévy’s zebra is listed as endangered), whereas the plains zebra is categorized as near-threatened, which means that it may be vulnerable to endangerment if no measures are taken to protect it. The quagga, a type of plains zebra, was driven to extinction by hunters in the 19th century.

The main threats that zebras face include habitat destruction and fragmentation, hunting for their meat and skin, competition with livestock, and obstruction of their traveling routes by fences. Historically, zebras have been targeted by exotic animal collectors and trophy hunters because of their signature striped coat. Civil wars in some African countries have also caused zebra populations to decline.

To protect zebras, protected areas (wildlife sanctuaries, national reserves and national parks) have been created in a number of African countries. There are protected areas for mountain zebras in Namibia and South Africa, plains zebras are protected in Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa and Zimbabwe, and protected areas for Grévy’s zebras can be found in Ethiopia and Kenya.

The origins of International Zebra Day are unclear, but it was most likely established by a coalition of nature conservation organizations that wanted to raise awareness of the plight of zebras and consolidate conservation efforts. Today, the holiday is observed by conservation organizations, nature reserves, zoos, and other stakeholders around the globe.

There are many ways to join the celebration of International Zebra Day. You can learn more about the different zebra species and the dangers they face, share the facts you’ve learned with anyone who is willing to listen, donate to a zebra conservation organization, wear a zebra print outfit to raise awareness, and spread the word about the holiday on social media with the hashtags #InternationalZebraDay and #ZebraDay.