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Grant's zebra
Paignton Zoo is home to two male Grant's zebras, 20-year-old Zebadee and his 20-month-old son, Parsnip.
The father-and-son duo arrived from Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in 2026 and are settling into their new home as part of the zoo's developing Grasslands area.
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Perissodactyla
Family:
Equidae
About the Grant's zebra
Grant's zebra is a subspecies of plains zebra found across eastern Africa, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania. They inhabit open grasslands, savannas, and lightly wooded areas, where they graze mainly on grasses and occasionally browse on leaves and other vegetation. Their strong teeth are well adapted for cropping and grinding tough grasses.
Like all zebras, every Grant's zebra has its own unique pattern of black and white stripes. They are highly social animals, typically living in family groups made up of a stallion, several mares, and their young, while other males may form bachelor groups. Zebras communicate using calls, facial expressions, and behaviours such as mutual grooming, helping to maintain strong social bonds.
Conservation
Grant's zebra is a subspecies of the plains zebra, which is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. However, populations can be affected by habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting, and competition with livestock for grazing and water. Protecting grassland and savanna habitats across eastern Africa, including Kenya and Tanzania, is important for maintaining healthy zebra populations.