Whilst on a recent game drive we came across a battlefield. Two zebra stallions were duking it out in the company of a harem of female zebras and their young. Fighting in the animal kingdom is certainly not uncommon but we often forget just how ferocious the usually docile zebra can be. Zebras are high up on most guests’ lists of animals they are hoping to see on safari, and for good reason. Their stunning black and white stripes mixing against a lush green landscape as they graze are a sought-after sighting. It’s also not uncommon to see a zebra missing a tail or sporting some bite marks on their rumps or cheeks. But what might surprise some is that this is often because of fights between zebra as opposed to a close shave with a predator.
On the afternoon in question, Tracker Rich Mthabine and I, together with our guests witnessed a zebra battle for the ages. We had stopped to look at a hornbill nest, a fascinating sighting in itself when the peaceful bush sounds were interrupted by the distinctive distress call of zebra. Thinking it might be a predator that had disturbed them we rushed over there and came across two stallions on their hind legs fighting it out. We continued to watch for at least half an hour as they chased each other up and down the grassy crest.
Two male zebras square off as the harem of females move away in the background to protect the foals
Biting is one method of aggression that Zebra stallions will use to fight one another. You can see a clear bite mark under the right eye of the stallion on the left.
Both stallions try and get an advantage over one another as they go onto their hind legs and try and bite each other’s necks and faces.
Zebras have the remarkable ability to kick backwards with both hind legs. A well-placed kick can easily knock out a rival stallion or attacking lion.
We worked out that an outside stallion had approached a dominant stallion and his harem, and was trying his best to out-compete him to attract the females in the group. Male zebra will form a harem as a mating strategy. It allows them to maximize their chances of reproductive success by mating with as many females as possible. They form these harems through a combination of physical prowess and social behaviour. Fighting and intimidation are used to establish dominance over rivals and once a harem is formed the stallion will fiercely defend it against other males using physical aggression and vocalizations.
The dominant stallion, seen with head down on the right of the bush, chases the intruder, far right, as the harem tries to protect a foal and themselves on the left of the photo.
The dominant stallion catches up to his rival and stops him from harming any of the females or youngsters in the group. The females will also defend their harem against a rival male if need be.
It was also interesting to note how the females in the harem stuck together during the fight. Female zebras in a harem have a close social bond and will sometimes even help the dominant stallion fight off the intruder. We often talk about the social bonds of zebra on a game drive but to see it play out in front of our eyes was fascinating. Watching the dominant stallion defend this group of females really showed the importance of the harem bond. He wanted to protect his best chance to reproduce which was with his harem, and the females did not want the stability of the group threatened with a rival male entering the fray as it wouldn’t be conducive to safely raising their young.
Both stallions spun around like this for a few moments as they tried biting each other’s tails and rumps.
Eventually, the legs of the rival stallion gave away and the dominant one was able to get the advantage in the fight.
Towards the end of the fight, the dominant stallion had his rival pinned down and was biting his rump and tail. Sometimes this leads to a stallion losing his tail but luckily for this rival he managed to keep his and we saw him limping off defeated after the fight.
As the defeated stallion walked off to lick his wounds it was another reminder about how fascinatingly brutal the bush can be and how privileged we are to witness the complex dynamics of mother nature play out over the 8.6 million acres of wilderness that we are part of.
Wow, James, what an incredible sighting. And your photos are stunning. I have never seen such a long and hard fight as you have just witnessed. Nature is really amazing with these animals fighting for dominance.
By the way, if the intruder had won, would he have killed any of the foals?
Good to hear from you again James.
Our first encounter with dueling zebras was incredibly loud.
Hi James, zebras are so charmingly beautiful and strong, agile, they remind wild horses also when fighting. There is a famous migration in Kalahari, very hard for them. Adult members are real heroes when it comes to defend youngsters. So amazing images, all grades of aggressiveness well displayed and more and more violent as the fight becomes more serious. Superb!
good stuff…while my photo trips are to Tanzania, one day I hope to visit L. Keep it up. Jim
This gets my pulse rising just thinking about it. I’ve seen wild horses do this in the States, and some of my own domestic horses get into little tizzy fits on occasion, but a full blown battle of zebra stallions would be quite intense. I think people often forget how powerful and vicious they can be when needed. Glad neither was seriously injured.
I have heard in the past that zebras along with hippos and other African herbivores are very hostile.
No wonder in the violent habitat where they live.
Thank you James for this fascinating blog about the Zebra’s and their behaviors.
A great visual blog! James, by what age is seen as mature and kick out to fend for himself or with other males?
Wow James, incredible sighting, and I must have been a thrilling and emotionally charged experience!!
James, this is fantastic reporting and imagery of the interaction between two male zebras – one fighting to maintain his dominance over his harem and the other looking for a weak spot to dethrone his nemesis. I’ve never seen this degree of fighting between zebras, and as I viewed each of your images, you provided me with a front row experience. I’ll be looking forward to seeing more blogs and images from you in the near future!
An exciting sighting, James! Wonderful to see these zebra males “in action,” rather just their rumps as they graze
James, It’s so great to see a blog from you and we hope you are doing well. Your images of the battle are amazing and we added one to our favorites! We will see you again in August and can’t wait to return!
Wonderful foto’s James and glad to see the stallion did not loose his tail. Nature is hard and cruel for dominance. But that is nature in raw.
What a spectacle that would have been. Great insight into zebra behaviours. Just fascinating. Thanks James
Yowzer – that looked intense! I’m sure it was an interesting bit to watch – maybe some video at the end of the week?