Researchers find zebras in Africa can cover distances of several hundred kilometers

May 28, 2014 00:47 GMT  ·  By
Zebras in Africa found to travel over distances of up to 500 kilometers (over 300 miles)
   Zebras in Africa found to travel over distances of up to 500 kilometers (over 300 miles)

“Pride and Prejudice's” Elizabeth Bennet might have been quite fond of walking, but, as it turns out, zebras in Africa have pretty much managed to turn walking into an extreme sport.

Thus, a recent study in the journal Oryx details that, according to data obtained with the help of GPS collars, zebras in this part of the world cover distances of up to 500 kilometers (over 300 miles) on a regular basis.

Their journey takes them from Namibia's Chobe River to Botswana's Nxai Pan National Park and back again, and it is considered to be the longest terrestrial wildlife migration in Africa to have until now been documented by science.

According to EurekAlert, wildlife researchers were quite happy to learn that thousands of zebras in Africa still travel on this route in today's day and age.

This is because several other migrations in this part of the world have been heavily disrupted by people's habit to interfere with the natural habitat of too many species and thus alter their behavior, the same source explains.

“At a time when conservation news is inherently rather negative, the discovery of this unknown natural phenomenon should resonate with people around the world,” Dr. Mike Chase with Elephants Without Borders said in a statement.