Understanding the Differences in How Grevy’s and Plains Zebras Interact with Cattle

Abstract

The issue of coexistence arises when livestock and wildlife share an environment—can biodiversity and livestock raising both be preserved? In the case study of zebras and cattle in Kenya, previous publications have suggested that rather than having a competitive relationship, which is commonly assumed, their dietary habits may lead to a facilitative relationship. In particular, cattle grazing can stimulate grass growth in what is known as a “green up” leading to higher quality grass for the zebras to consume. This thesis extends existing research on how two species of zebras—Grevy’s and plains—interact with cattle. Observational data was collected in the field at Mpala Research Centre in Kenya. The data was used to reinforce preexisting knowledge on Grevy’s and plains zebras and identify further interspecific differences in how the two species behave around cattle. We found that Grevy’s zebras tended to be found near cattle, where the cattle grazing resulted in short, green grass, and plains avoided those areas and were found grazing on tall grass near drinking points. This suggests that the two species of zebra have different priorities which affects how they interact with cattle.