Saving the Endangered Grevy's Zebra

Grevy’s zebras are the largest, wildest and most untamable of the three zebra species in Africa. Historically, Grevy’s zebras roamed the scrublands and plains in Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Kenya. But Grevy’s zebras have suffered one of the most substantial reductions of range of any African mammal.

A few decades ago, more than 15,000 Grevy’s zebra inhabited Africa. Today, fewer than 2,500 remain. The greatest threats facing the species today are habitat fragmentation and loss as more land is converted to agricultural use. Overgrazing by livestock is leading to significant environmental degradation. Grevy’s zebra compete with the ever-increasing livestock population and agricultural crops for water.

Under the leadership of AWF research scientist, Dr. Paul Muoria, AWF is working hard to better understand the Grevy’s zebras that live in Northern Kenya, specifically in the Samburu Heartland. With a clearer understanding of the Grevy’s population status and critical threats, AWF and its partners can develop effective conservation strategies.

Partnering with Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, various community-based groups in Samburu and Isiolo districts of Kenya, AWF set out in 2002 to conduct population censuses on community lands and the protected areas of Samburu, Buffalo and Shaba National Reserves.

As part of this ongoing effort, Grevy’s zebras are monitored with the help of local rangers and community scouts (traveling by foot and in vehicles) and aerial surveys. Careful notes are taken on the number of zebra, their age and sex as well as their distribution, particularly taking note of the land type (e.g. how the land is being used) where the zebras are located.

Since its inception, AWF’s Grevy’s zebra research has made considerable progress in gaining a greater understanding of the population. The research team has established that at least 1,100 individual Grevy’s zebras utilize the southern Samburu, particularly during periods of food and water abundance. Less than ten percent, however, utilized the protected areas, perhaps due to higher risk of predation there. Time and time again, data indicate that Grevy’s zebras tend to migrate in the same areas where humans and livestock reside – placing them in direct competition for water and food. But Grevy’s numbers increased in protected areas during the drought of 2006, indicating that protected areas are also important for conservation of the endangered equid.

Armed with data and information on the temporal and spatial distribution of Grevy’s zebras in the landscape, the AWF team is working closely with the local community and authorities to secure key areas for Grevy’s zebra conservation. This involves initiatives like exploring alternative land uses, forming participatory natural resource management plan and raising the legal status of Grevy’s zebras. Currently, the species’ only protection is through the 1977 hunting ban. If the ban were lifted, the species could be hunted at a fee because it is still classified as a game animal. AWF’s proposal to upgrade the Grevy’s zebra from “Game Animal” to “Protected Animal” under Kenyan law has in principle been accepted by Kenya Wildlife Service.

While the Grevy’s zebra population is becoming more stable, the population has not recovered sufficiently enough to be removed from the list of Endangered Species. But, AWF believes with diligence, the Grevy’s zebra population can rebound.

AWF’s Grevy’s Zebra Research Project is working fast and furiously to apply their census findings to the development of effective conservation efforts. In the future, in addition to working with the local people to build their capacity and alternative sources of income, AWF will be working hard to ensure that these beautiful equids can roam freely along their migratory routes, can graze sufficiently and have access to critical water sources.