International Zebra Day

Zebras are incredible creatures that are some of the most uniquely recognizable animals on the planet. With their contrasted stripes in black and white, zebras belong to the same equine species as horses and donkeys, but they are native only to Africa and the obviously have some distinct characteristics.

As their habitats grow smaller and populations diminish, zebras have been placed on the endangered species list by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

International Zebra Day is here to increase public awareness about the plight of the zebra, encouraging humans to take action to save them!

History of International Zebra Day

International Zebra Day has some fuzzy beginnings, but it is generally regarded as an event founded through the efforts of several conservation groups.

Today, the day continues to be promoted through various organizations such as the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute, Take Action for Wildlife Conservation in the UK, the Taronga Conservation Society in Australia, and many others.

This day acts as an annual opportunity to bring special attention to the zebra, encouraging individuals, conservation groups, government agencies, businesses, and other community members to get involved with proactively safeguarding zebras.

How to Celebrate International Zebra Day

Join the fun and celebrate for a good cause by participating in International Zebra Day. Make a difference in the conservation efforts for this unique African animal, by getting started with some of these plans:

Help Save the Zebras

Whether through financial donations or volunteering, International Zebra Day is a perfect time to get involved with charities that are helping to keep zebras protected and work to prevent their extinction.

Give through organizations like the Grevy’s Zebra Trust, the World Wildlife Fund, and Zebra Pen.

Dress in Black and White

One excellent way to raise awareness for International Zebra Day is to don their “uniform” for the day! Dress up in black and white stripes to go to work or school.

Or for those who work from home, snap a selfie in that zebra gear and post it on social media to spread the word about protecting zebras.

Learn Fascinating Facts About Zebras

One excellent way for parents and teachers to get classrooms, scout troops, or the whole family involved with International Zebra Day might be to encourage learning some interesting facts about this amazing animal!

Head over to the local library and check out some books to do some research on zebras, or get started with some of these fun facts:

• A zebra’s black stripes contain melanin and act as a natural sun protectant that absorbs the harmful UV rays of the scorching sun, while the white stripes reflect the sunlight and help cool down the body temperature
• There are three different species of zebra, which include the Plain Zebra, the Mountain Zebra, and the Grevy Zebra 
• Just like fingerprints for humans, no two zebras have the same black-and-white stripe pattern on their bodies!