Plains zebras on grassy hill at dusk, Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Laikipia, Kenya

Stripe science

Why do zebras have stripes? As far as science is concerned, the answer’s not in black and white. Originally it was thought that stripes camouflage the animals amid tall savannah grasses like those found here in Kenya. But research has suggested they also serve as a warning coloration, as reflective protection from hot sunlight, or even as a visual bug repellent. One thing we know for sure: stripes help us identify zebras by species (like these plains zebras, recognisable by the stripes across their bellies) and even as individuals, because their stripe patterns are unique just like human fingerprints.