Are zebras pack animals?

The correct answer to this question is No. Many would believe that zebras are pack animals because closely related animals such as donkeys and horses are. Yet, zebras are considered pack animals. The reason for this is zebras are not domesticated, even though they socially tend to travel in groups.

To be considered a pack animal, the animal must be able to be controlled, and humans should be able to predict their next move. They are less likely to harm when they feel threatened or are in panic mode. As zebras are unpredictable and can become very aggressive, they do not pack animals.

Zebras are known to travel in groups. They do this for a specific reason and that is to be together to frighten off the predators. If the predator sees zebras in a group, this lone predator may feel that the pack of them are scary to the predator. Sometimes, the group of zebras may be small or large depending on the group.

In a savannah, this would allow the predatory to easily see the large amount of zebras together. It may seem that the zebra is a loner, but in actuality it may seem like it wants to be by himself, but they stay together for protection. By itself, the zebra could not fight off any true predator if it was approached by a cheetah or lion.

Unlike their closest relatives, horses and donkeys, zebras are not pack animals. Zebras are social animals that live in small to large groups but they have never been domesticated. Zebras are unpredictable, aggressive and they are known to attack humans. They do not fit into the criteria that animals must meet before they can be called pack animals.

For example, pack animals should have good disposition and should not panic or become harmful when under pressure.

While attempt at domesticating them have failed, quite a number of people have succeeded in training and even hybridizing zebras.