WildCare Institute's Club Conservation
for the Grevy's Zebra

WildCare Institute 

In eastern Africa, or what many refer to as the Horn of Africa, the Saint Louis Zoo has been helping the Grevy's zebra.  There are three types of zebra: plains, mountains and Grevy's zebras. This third species, the Grevy's zebra, is severely endangered, with fewer than 2,000 left in the wild. 

The Saint Louis Zoo, with other partners in Africa and in the United States, has been working to help save the last remaining zebras.  The biggest problems the zebras face today are habitat loss and competition for food and water.  In order to help the zebras, we must help fix the problems that lead to their decline. 

Much of this has to do with the local villagers in Kenya and Ethiopia.  By providing a watering hole for livestock, we've helped free up water for the Grevy's zebra.  By setting up Club Conservation for kids in Africa, we've helped make conservation fun - ensuring the survival of the Grevy's zebra for years to come. 

Club Conservation 

And we're setting up a Club Conservation here in the United States. You can help!  Use the navigation buttons on the left hand side of the page to learn more about the Grevy's zebra, their habitats, the people that live with them and what the Saint Louis Zoo is doing to help. 

Get involved!  We can help you set up your own Club Conservation at your school.  There are conservation projects you can get involved in on your own.  See our suggestions and then let us know if we missed something.  You've probably got some great ideas - let us hear them!

African Folk Tales 

Is a zebra black with white stripes or white with black stripes?  Folk tales were created to help explain some of the nature's toughest questions while entertaining its listeners.  This African folk tale explains how zebras came to have stripes.  Though not scientifically correct, it's a fun way to think about the beautifully striped Grevy's zebras! 

How the Zebra Got His Stripes
A long time ago, when animals were still new on earth, the weather was very hot and water was in short supply.  A loud and obnoxious baboon declared that the land was his and refused to let anyone take a sip from the river.  A proud and young zebra stood up to the fearful baboon and challenged him to a fight.  Back then, zebras had pure white coats, rather than the black stripes you see today.  During the fight, the baboon used his fierce fangs to scare the zebra away and the zebra used his sharp hooves and strong bite.  Soon the baboon gained the upper hand and pushed the zebra into a fire nearby.  The burning logs seared into the zebra's coat, but they also gave the young stallion a burst of strength.  With a mighty kick, the zebra sent the baboon flying into a pile of rocks, where he landed with such a force that to this day, the baboon walks around with a bare patch on his bottom.  The burn marks from the logs left black stripes on the zebra's white coat.  But in the end, the zebra won, and the water hole that the baboon had so fiercely protected is now available to all the animals.  And the zebras continue to wear their stripes with pride.