Grevy's Zebra (Equus grevyi) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

Population estimates

• About 2,000 mature individuals (Rubenstein et al. 2016)
   

Historical estimates of population size

• Global population estimates
  • 1960's: 15,000 total population estimated
  • 2000: total population in all countries in wild estimated at 3,000 (Williams 2002)
  • 2008: 1,966-2,447 individuals, combined IUCN estimate for Ethiopia and Kenya (Moehlman et al 2008)
    • About 750 mature individuals
    • Largest sub-population is 255 mature individuals
    • Possible sighting in Sudan, remains unverified
• Ethiopian population estimates
  • 1980: 1,900
  • 1995: 500-600, a drastic decline from the previous estimate (Rowen & Ginsberg 1992)
  • 2003: 110 individuals (Williams et al 2003)
    • Represents a roughly 94% decline since the 1980s
    • Decline attributed to killing by well-armed local people; loss of habitat deemed to pose a lesser threat
  • 2006: 128 individuals
  • 2007: 126 individuals (Kenya's National Grevy's Zebra Task Force 2008)
• Kenyan population estimates
  • 2000: last comprehensive survey in Kenya: 2,571 individuals ( ±136)
  • 2006: decline of 50-68% between 1988 and 2006
  • 2007: potential, small increase in population size

IUCN Status

• Endangered (2016 assessment) (Rubenstein et al. 2016)
• Historical listing
  • Endangered 1986-present

CITES Status

• Appendix I (UNEP 2019)
  • No commercial trade in skins

Other Listings

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Endangered Species List
  • Threatened (Federal Register 1979)
• Legally protected in Ethiopia (Kenya's National Grevy's Zebra Task Force 2008)
• Kenya government currently revising status from 'Game Animal'
  • Considering amending listing to 'Protected Animal' (Kenya's National Grevy's Zebra Task Force 2008)

Conflict with humans (from Moehlman et al. 2008)

• Hunted by humans for sport
• Populations negatively impacted by armed conflicts within their distribution
• Compete with domestic livestock for resources

Habitat loss and degradation

• Lack of water
• Irrigation for agriculture has reduced river flow
  

Northern Rangelands Endangered Species Program

• Designates land for pastoralist families and native wildlife
• First supported at West Gate community by San Diego Zoo in 2004
• Set aside some 128,500 acres of prime habitat for Grevy's zebra and others

Grevy's Zebra Scouts

• Community based program
• Program began in 2003
• Members are trained to collect data on zebra ecology

Federal Register (1979)
Kenya's National Grevy's Zebra Task Force (2008)
Moehlman et al (2008)
Rowen & Ginsberg (1992)
Williams (2002)
Williams et al (2003)