Say zebra, and most people picture black and white stripes. Few people know there is more than one kind. Kenya has two of them. One is common. One is rare.
The plains zebra
The plains zebra is the common one. It lives in grasslands and savannas across eastern and southern Africa. It is the zebra most visitors to Kenya see first.
It eats many kinds of grass. Sometimes it also eats leaves and young trees. Each year, plains zebras in some places travel long distances in big groups, and they bring their young with them.
The Grevy's zebra
The Grevy's zebra is rarer. Today it lives mainly in southern Ethiopia and northern Kenya, in dry grasslands where it can reach a steady supply of water. It is listed as Endangered.
The African Wildlife Foundation says the stripes of a Grevy's zebra are as distinctive as human fingerprints. That is a good fact to share with a child who likes puzzles.
How to tell them apart
- A Grevy's zebra has larger ears than a plains zebra.
- Its stripes are narrower.
- A Grevy's zebra is bigger than a plains zebra.
- The plains zebra is found in many places. The Grevy's zebra is found in far fewer.
Ask your child to look at ears first. They are the easiest clue in a picture, because a pair of big, round ears stands out.
Why a rare animal matters to a child
Children often care about the animal that is hard to find. Tell them that the Grevy's zebra is one of those, and that people in Kenya work to protect it. You do not need big numbers. One clear sentence is enough.
Our zebra
Our zebra is crocheted by hand in Nairobi from recycled acrylic yarn. It is black and white, with stripes worked into the yarn. A plain zebra has zero plastic and no loose parts, and you can wipe it clean.
It comes in Small, Medium, Large and Extra large. We make one colourway today. If you would like to talk about an idea, send us a note through the Studio.
A spotting game for the car
Stripes are easier to spot than most animals. Try this on a long drive or a matatu ride.
- Pick a colour and a pattern, like black and white stripes.
- Each time someone sees something with stripes, they call it out. A road crossing, a shirt or a fence all count.
- The first to reach ten wins the zebra title for the day.
At home, line up your zebra beside other animals and ask which one has the boldest pattern. A zebra will win every time.
