The Serengeti Zebra Migration Map, Facts. Why & When
The zebra migration in the Serengeti constitutes a segment of the broader Great Migration, a seasonal transit of wildebeest, zebras, and other ungulates throughout the Serengeti-Mara habitat in Tanzania and Kenya. This migration is chiefly influenced by seasonal precipitation and the accessibility of sustenance and water. Zebras, in conjunction with wildebeest, constitute a substantial segment of the migration, with more than 200,000 zebras involved.
The Great Migration involves a cyclical, seasonal movement of wildebeest, zebras, Thomson’s gazelles, and eland throughout the Serengeti-Mara Ecosystem. The yearly migration of the blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) encompasses the full extent of the Greater Serengeti environment, a round-trip surpassing a direct distance of 650 km. GPS collar data indicates that the actual distance traversed exceeds 1500 kilometres. The wildebeest migration is perpetually in motion, with females exhibiting an average daily displacement of 4.5 kilometres. The zebra migration in the Serengeti accompanies them.
Fact Sheet on Plains Zebra Migration, Serengeti-Mara
Serengeti Zebra Migration
According to the Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, about 200,000 zebras travel through the Serengeti-Mara habitat, representing Africa’s greatest zebra migration. Zebras in the expansive Serengeti-Mara environment migrate mostly due to seasonal precipitation. In the rainy season, familial units (often comprising a stallion, two or three mares, and their progeny) amalgamate with others to create extensive herds and travel to the southern grasslands.
The zebra migration on the plains is primarily limited to regions with abundant grass biomass. While they sporadically venture onto the premium short-grass plains in the far southeast, their movement primarily concentrates on grazing the long-grass plains. As the arid season progresses, the herds migrate northward and westward into the woodlands, circumventing thicket areas that frequently harbour predators. Certain familial groupings inhabit the expansive, verdant savanna meadows of the Western Corridor during the dry season, whereas others migrate northward.
Additional familial groups relocate to the Masai Mara in Kenya. The migratory pathways of individuals frequently exhibit consistency between years, with animals traversing rivers at virtually identical locations. Foaling occurs throughout the year, although there is a slight increase in rates during the rainy season.
Animals of the Great Migration
Of the 2 million animals participating in the great migration, around 300,000 are zebras. A symbiotic interaction is present between the zebras and wildebeest in the Serengeti. The primary reason for their cohesion is safety.
The Serengeti Migration: Zebra and Wildebeest
Zebra Migration | Great Plains
- Collectively, they possess a robust “alarm” system, and the substantial size of their amassed herds diminishes the likelihood of any individual being preyed upon by a predator. The wildebeest employs its heightened auditory and olfactory senses to remain vigilant against predators, whilst the zebra utilises its exceptional vision to detect potential dangers.
- Zebras and wildebeest do not compete for sustenance. Wildebeest are discerning feeders; they selectively nibble on the shorter sections of grass. Fortunately for them, zebras are mass grazers, trimming the grass akin to a lawnmower and rendering it more attractive for wildebeest consumption.
- Zebras possess an exceptional memory that enables them to remember secure migration pathways, assisting in guiding the often aimless wildebeests. The wildebeest’s exceptional olfactory ability can identify water sources even during arid conditions, providing a benefit for the zebra.
- Both species prefer relatively unobstructed grassy environments; nevertheless, this preference renders them more susceptible to predation, necessitating the advantage of safety in numbers.