How a dazzle of zebras makes for truly engaging photography

This is the same new born baby zebra taking off at speed after her mother. The mother was bumped by one of the other adults that got spooked by something. (Photo: Anne Laing)

By Anne Laing

10 May 2022

How did zebras get their stripes? Keen photographer Anne Laing has some interesting theories.

I am hugely privileged to live directly opposite the southern gate to the Addo Elephant National Park — about 45km from Gqeberha in Eastern Cape.

Addo was established in 1931 and now, at 1,640km2, it is the third-largest national park in South Africa.

Watching the behaviour of the Burchell’s zebras in Addo is absolutely fascinating.

Zebras are actually black with white stripes — although the reverse seems more likely. Their stripe patterns are unique; like fingerprints, no two are the same.

Zebras at the Ngulube waterhole at Addo Elephant National Park Elephants are ready positioned to prevent any zebra drinking from the Ngulube waterhole until they decide to let them get closer. Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. (Photo: Anne Laing)

There are several theories as to why they have these stripes, from serving to ward off insects such as biting flies that carry dangerous diseases, to dazzling and confusing potential predators, to actually acting as a stripy air conditioner! The latter theory has it that the black stripes provide warmth on chilly mornings while the white ones help keep the animals cool in the heat of the day.

The collective noun for zebras is “a dazzle”.

They have a social structure in which one stallion has a harem, with anything between two and six breeding mares and their foals. Each harem has a leader or alpha female.

Zebras are not territorial but there are fights between males over females, which can get very aggressive and even lead to death. There are also herds of young single males.

I was lucky enough to see and photograph a newborn zebra recently. It was, at most, an hour old. Amazingly, a foal can stand upright within six minutes of being born. Just compare that to us humans.

A baby zebra and mother at Addo Elephant National Park This baby zebra was born in Addo Elephant National Park at most an hour before I get there- as it was still very wobbly. Unlike humans baby zebra can stand upright after only 6 minutes of being born. Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. (Photo: Anne Laing)

The bond between a mother and her baby is so beautiful and always makes for awesome pictures.

An amazing incident happened recently when a very pregnant zebra chose to block a road by standing slap bang in the middle of it. This went on for about 15 minutes, with no tourists’ cars able to pass her.

I was in the second car on the left and picked up my big 200-400mm lens and leaned out of the window to be able to shoot photographs of her. It was almost as if she spotted me and moved closer each time I lifted up my lens — throwing back her head and looking as if she was laughing at me.

A 'laughing' zebra at Addo Elephant National Park Every time I picked up my really big telephoto lens to shoot a picture of this zebra blocking the road- she moved forward towards me and almost looked like she was laughing at me. Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. (Photo: Anne Laing)

This happened a couple of times and she got really close to me. Then cars on the right were able to get past her. I lost sight of her in the traffic, but the car in front of me didn’t move at all. So I very slowly moved out to overtake him. I then saw exactly why he didn’t move: the zebra was standing right against the middle of his bonnet.

A pregnant zebra blocks a car on a road within Addo Elephant National Park This heavily pregnant zebra decided to block this car from passing her. She had already blocked the whole road for about 15 minutes and this driver had to wait at least another 10 minutes before she finally moved out of the way. (Photo: Anne Laing)

As I said, she was very pregnant, so maybe hormones played a part in this behaviour.

One of the most fascinating things I have witnessed — which happens on really hot days — is when elephants at a waterhole have a standoff with zebras and refuse to let them come close enough to drink. This can last for an hour or more.

It is usually just the stomping of a foot or the waving of a trunk.

The huge elephant in the middle is clearly making sure that no zebra get close enough to quench their thirst at the Ngulube waterhole on a particularly hot day in Addo. This standoff lasted more than an hour- and even then the zebra were only allowed to drink from a much smaller pool of water to the left of the actual waterhole. Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa. (Photo: Anne Laing)

Even if young elephants physically shoo them away, the zebras know the elephants will not actually chase them like a predator might, so they only run about three metres anyway. It’s a bit like a game of chess.

A baby zebra and mother running together at Addo Elephant National Park This is the same newborn baby zebra taking off at speed after her mother. The mother was bumped by one of the other adults that got spooked by something. (Photo: Anne Laing)

When there has been rain, the elephants have enough water sources in the bushes and don’t turn up at the waterholes. Then one can watch the zebras and their sometimes funny and quirky behaviour instead. DM168

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper which is available for R25 at Pick n Pay, Exclusive Books and airport bookstores. For your nearest stockist, please click here.

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