The term “a dazzle” – the collective noun for zebra leapt to mind this morning as I stopped to watch the small family cross in front of me. Okay! they’re not roaming free, but are contained here in the the nearby Cape Point Reserve. They have featured in this blog in other posts, I ‘ve met them while cycling or hiking, but today it was a morning outing by car. What a stroke of luck to find them on my route. By the way how do you like that descriptive term, a dazzle?
The Cape Mountain zebra is a separate species from the Plains zebra, Hartmann’s and Burchell’s. Their numbers dwindled right down to fewer than 80 individuals in the 1950’s due to excessive hunting and loss of habitat. Their survival is thanks to the protection by a private landowner in the Cradock area which is now the Mountain Zebra National Park. By the 1990’s the population had increased to a point where translocations to at least 25 other protected areas and game ranches took place. Today their status is listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN with a population figure of about 2,800 animals.
They differ from the other zebra species and can be distinguished by their dewlap and white belly. I marvel at the way their stripes intersect and checker at the top of the spine and tail, and how the patterns space down the leg and crowd around the ankles rather like sagging socks. The last foal in this group was born in 2011, we keep hoping that another could be on the way.
Nature on the Edge 
Lovely!!
their legs look so short for their bodies! beautiful, a nice visual break for my tired eyes.. am in town to report a transformer that blew (poor vulture!) and need to scram…
Beautiful, beautiful stripes – particularly like the first image where it holds its head up so alertly. This kind appears to have a very long body.
Wonderful creatures!
Dazzle is right. One can’t help but wonder what selective advantage this amazing striped pattern had in the evolution of this animal. It certainly wasn’t for camouflage.
“Why did the zebra cross the road?” 😉
Beautiful species. Remarkable recovery in 25 years. Conservation makes a big difference, thanks to the forethought of a few caring individuals. Hope a foal is on its way – they must be so cute!
Hehe, it really was a white creature and then it went off to find a couturier for a make-over 🙂 Will report back if there are the patter of little feet.
This is a wonderful series. It’s as though she stopped just for you so you could be dazzled. The final rear shot made me smile.
Thanks M. Yes, mooning with such elegance 🙂
i took a detour and helped friend paint their storefront! oh by the way, i like the concept of a dazzle of zebras! z
Hi Z, this your totem, right :). I’m coming to have blog visit to see what you have been up to. 🙂
A dazzling dazzle for sure Liz, lovely post!
You make me smile, Tina!