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Grevy's Zebra Trust

About | Solutions | Impact | Donate | Stories

While Africa is filled with zebras, few of them are Grevy's.

Dry northern Kenya is home to the unique Grevy’s zebra—distinctive by their larger size and round Mickey Mouse ears. Grevy's zebra are very rare, with just over 3,000 remaining.
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The Grevy’s is quickly distinguishable from its plains and mountain zebra counterparts.

The plains of Africa are filled with zebras, their distinctive coats forming a sea of black and white across the continent’s landscapes. But in dry northern Kenya the unique Grevy’s zebra makes its home, and just over 3,000 of these special animals remain.

The Grevy’s is quickly distinguishable from its plains and mountain zebra counterparts due to its charming large round ears, and because it is tailor-made for the semi-arid climate where it lives. This zebra can survive for five days without water. However, even the hardy Grevy’s now struggles to live on land that has been overgrazed by livestock belonging to the local pastoralist communities. With drought always just a whisper away, the female Grevy’s zebra increasingly must leave her foal behind while looking for water. This increased search for water has amplified mortality rates, in turn leading to a dwindling population size. Grevy’s Zebra Trust (GZT) engages local people to protect the remaining Grevy’s zebra and their habitat. GZT’s work is rooted in local values, capacity, and action.

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Restoring Grevys zebra habitat is a top priority for GZT.

Grevy's Zebra Trust is the only organization dedicated to conserving the endangered Grevy's zebra. In this video from TV network HITN, Belinda Low Mackey talks about how GZT works with local people to protect these unique and beautiful animals from threats like the loss of their grassland habitat.
Grevy's Zebra Trust (Belinda Low)
The survival of Grevy’s zebra and people’s livelihoods are inextricably linked. They rely on the same habitat.
Belinda Low

Belinda Low Mackey, Co-Founder and Executive Director

Belinda Mackey says that being in the presence of wildlife has the unique effect of making her feel both alive and peaceful at the same time. Growing up in Kenya, Belinda was able to spend time with wildlife, but left her home country to teach English in Bolivia after earning a university degree in Spanish. She wanted to change careers to work with wildlife, and applied to a masters program in conservation biology despite having none of the right qualifications. She was accepted and after gaining a distinction in her studies, returned to Kenya to begin her work with Grevy’s zebra. She founded GZT to work with local people on conservation across the Grevy’s range in Kenya.

Conservation Solutions

Icon Restoring Habitat
Icon Reducing Conflict
Icon Scientific Research
Icon Expanding Education
Icon Empowering Women
Icon Boosting Local Economies
Icon Guiding Policy
Icon Promoting Health
Icon Honoring Culture

Regenerative Grazing

GZT builds on traditional livestock management methods used by pastoralists to address the root cause of land degradation in northern Kenya. Loss of grazing habitat is a major threat to Grevy’s zebra. By planning livestock herding, setting aside areas for dry and wet season grazing, giving grass recovery time, clearing invasive species, and reseeding bare land, livestock can be transformed into an eco-tool.

Grevy’s Zebra Ambassadors & Conservation Council

Grevy’s Zebra Ambassadors employs community members to exchange conservation knowledge and recommendations at local community meetings. To support the Ambassadors, GZT also established a conservation council of elders, warriors, and women from the Samburu and Turkana ethnic groups that have been trained in conflict transformation, guiding their communities on peace, law enforcement, and grazing management.

Community-Based Grevy’s Zebra Monitoring

GZT’s Research and Monitoring Program gathers data from sightings, camera traps, spoor samples. They then geo-reference that data with GPS units to monitor Grevy’s zebra numbers, age structure, and habitat quality using the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) and CyberTracker tools. Their data collection system is visual, which allows non-literate members of the community the chance to be employed and inform conservation decisions and solutions.

Scholarships

GZT provides Grevy’s Zebra Scholarships to further the secondary school education of young boys and girls from the pastoral communities of northern Kenya. These communities are often economically marginalized, so support of children’s education is highly valued. Education builds the capacity of the future generation and is a major catalyst in changing attitudes towards wildlife.

Scout Program & Nkiretten

GZT employs female Grevy’s Zebra Scouts, many of whom are widows and single mothers, to monitor and protect zebras, helping provide medical care and education for their families. In addition, GZT’s reusable sanitary pad program, the Nkirreten Project, helps women produce and distribute reusable sanitary pads throughout the community, keeping girls in school during their menstrual cycle, and providing an income to the women making the pads.

Grevy's Zebra Warriors

As the next generation of leaders, engaging Samburu warriors in conservation is critical for long-term success. GZT employs Samburu Warriors to monitor wildlife, raise awareness, and provide protection. Their outreach to communities has created a large network of local support through which conservation messaging is disseminated and practical conservation action is implemented.

Infrastructure & Biodiversity

Taking a collaborative approach, the Grevy’s Zebra Trust works with Ewaso Lions to safeguard wildlife corridors that are due to face major impacts of development projects cutting across the region over the next decade. GZT ensures community participation in decision making as the infrastructure is designed, and mitigates the ecosystem impacts of the infrastructure projects.

Nkirreten & COVID-19 Response

While GZT’s Nkirreten project usually provides women with reusable sanitary pads to manage their cycles in a healthy way, their team immediately pivoted to making face masks as part of the response to COVID-19 in 2020. GZT’s Nkirreten team produced and distributed thousands of face masks to protect their community from the virus, providing practical demonstrations on how to properly wear the masks.

Zebra People

The Zebra People initiative is a touring art experience, launched at an exhibition at the National Museum of Kenya, and proudly attended by the whole team of Grevy’s Zebra Warriors. The Samburu and Rendille Grevy’s Zebra Warriors took many of the photographs featured in the exhibition, providing the public a glimpse into their lives, and raising the profile of Grevy’s zebra both locally and globally.

Icon Restoring Habitat

Regenerative Grazing

GZT builds on traditional livestock management methods used by pastoralists to address the root cause of land degradation in northern Kenya. Loss of grazing habitat is a major threat to Grevy’s zebra. By planning livestock herding, setting aside areas for dry and wet season grazing, giving grass recovery time, clearing invasive species, and reseeding bare land, livestock can be transformed into an eco-tool.

Icon Reducing Conflict

Grevy’s Zebra Ambassadors & Conservation Council

Grevy’s Zebra Ambassadors employs community members to exchange conservation knowledge and recommendations at local community meetings. To support the Ambassadors, GZT also established a conservation council of elders, warriors, and women from the Samburu and Turkana ethnic groups that have been trained in conflict transformation, guiding their communities on peace, law enforcement, and grazing management.

Icon Scientific Research

Community-Based Grevy’s Zebra Monitoring

GZT’s Research and Monitoring Program gathers data from sightings, camera traps, spoor samples. They then geo-reference that data with GPS units to monitor Grevy’s zebra numbers, age structure, and habitat quality using the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) and CyberTracker tools. Their data collection system is visual, which allows non-literate members of the community the chance to be employed and inform conservation decisions and solutions.

Icon Expanding Education

Scholarships

GZT provides Grevy’s Zebra Scholarships to further the secondary school education of young boys and girls from the pastoral communities of northern Kenya. These communities are often economically marginalized, so support of children’s education is highly valued. Education builds the capacity of the future generation and is a major catalyst in changing attitudes towards wildlife.

Icon Empowering Women

Scout Program & Nkiretten

GZT employs female Grevy’s Zebra Scouts, many of whom are widows and single mothers, to monitor and protect zebras, helping provide medical care and education for their families. In addition, GZT’s reusable sanitary pad program, the Nkirreten Project, helps women produce and distribute reusable sanitary pads throughout the community, keeping girls in school during their menstrual cycle, and providing an income to the women making the pads.

Icon Boosting Local Economies

Grevy's Zebra Warriors

As the next generation of leaders, engaging Samburu warriors in conservation is critical for long-term success. GZT employs Samburu Warriors to monitor wildlife, raise awareness, and provide protection. Their outreach to communities has created a large network of local support through which conservation messaging is disseminated and practical conservation action is implemented.

Icon Guiding Policy

Infrastructure & Biodiversity

Taking a collaborative approach, the Grevy’s Zebra Trust works with Ewaso Lions to safeguard wildlife corridors that are due to face major impacts of development projects cutting across the region over the next decade. GZT ensures community participation in decision making as the infrastructure is designed, and mitigates the ecosystem impacts of the infrastructure projects.

Icon Promoting Health

Nkirreten & COVID-19 Response

While GZT’s Nkirreten project usually provides women with reusable sanitary pads to manage their cycles in a healthy way, their team immediately pivoted to making face masks as part of the response to COVID-19 in 2020. GZT’s Nkirreten team produced and distributed thousands of face masks to protect their community from the virus, providing practical demonstrations on how to properly wear the masks.

Icon Honoring Culture

Zebra People

The Zebra People initiative is a touring art experience, launched at an exhibition at the National Museum of Kenya, and proudly attended by the whole team of Grevy’s Zebra Warriors. The Samburu and Rendille Grevy’s Zebra Warriors took many of the photographs featured in the exhibition, providing the public a glimpse into their lives, and raising the profile of Grevy’s zebra both locally and globally.

Impact by the Numbers

94 Fill 1 Created with Sketch.

percentage of GZT’s team that is from the community areas where it works

9,860 Fill 1 Created with Sketch.

miles patrolled by GZT's Zebra Ambassadors and Warriors in 2020

1,532 Fill 1 Created with Sketch.

acres of land restored by GZT's Grassland Champion women in 2020

$150 will fund a school visit to engage children in conservation education to foster positive attitudes towards wildlife in the next generation.

$5,000 will restore 125 acres of bare land back to productive grassland for Grevy’s zebra.

A donation of any amount will support the Grevy’s Zebra Scouts, who are local women paid to monitor the zebra herds.

The Grevy's Zebra Trust Team Shares Updates at Expo

Belinda Low Mackey, Sheila Funnell, Peter Lalampaa, and others from the Grevy's Zebra Trust team share about their work protecting Grevy's zebras in Kenya.

News & Stories

Severe Drought in Kenya Threatens Wildlife

Severe Drought in Kenya Threatens Wildlife

Kenya is on the brink of a fifth failed rainy season with a good chance that the country will continue... Learn More
Keeping Hope Flowing in Samburu

Keeping Hope Flowing in Samburu

Every day, the midday sun sears the plains of northern Kenya, renowned for hosting some of Africa’s most iconic species.... Learn More
The Resiliency of Conservation

The Resiliency of Conservation

It wasn’t long after daybreak when Sintiwan Lekilia left her home, the sun still hung low in the sky casting... Learn More
Scouting for Grevy's Zebras

Scouting for Grevy's Zebras

Focusing his binoculars, Julius Lekenit could see the Grevy’s zebras in sharp detail, an assembly of dizzying stripes and mohawk-style... Learn More
New Stripes for Samburu and Grevy’s Zebra Trust

New Stripes for Samburu and Grevy’s Zebra Trust

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created innumerable hardships that the world must endure together. But it has also brought out... Learn More
Locust invasion puts Kenyan wildlife, livestock, and local communities at risk

Locust invasion puts Kenyan wildlife, livestock, and local communities at risk

It is difficult to imagine what a swarm of 100 billion to 200 billion flying locusts even looks like. It... Learn More
Under Construction

Under Construction

As she pulls the truck off the highway and heads west into Samburu, Sarah Chiles marvels at the area’s remarkable... Learn More
Saluting Rangers Worldwide on World Ranger Day

Saluting Rangers Worldwide on World Ranger Day

Rangers, forest guards, warriors, scouts, field enforcement officers—the titles they serve under are many, but these brave women and men... Learn More
Extreme Drought Brings Extreme Actions

Extreme Drought Brings Extreme Actions

Remarkably, the hay bales tied to the back of the motorbike stayed in place, barely wobbling as the young man... Learn More
“Grass Guardians,” the Young Defenders of Northern Kenya’s Rangelands

“Grass Guardians,” the Young Defenders of Northern Kenya’s Rangelands

As a “Grass Guardian,” Ntaati Lengila has a mission, and one he takes seriously. His job is to protect the... Learn More
A Day in the Life of a Grevy’s Zebra Scout

A Day in the Life of a Grevy’s Zebra Scout

Ngeeti Lempate has devoted her life to Grevy’s zebra conservation over the past 12 years. Within her community, she is... Learn More
A Vet for Samburu

A Vet for Samburu

Elephants are powerfully strong and can be fierce with their impressive tusks, lions stalk and hunt with deadly precision, Grevy's... Learn More
Every Grevy’s Zebra Counts

Every Grevy’s Zebra Counts

It was 2:00 a.m., and Lekureya was returning home when he came upon two terrified Grevy’s zebras, a mother and... Learn More
Citizen Scientists Count the Zebra with a Bar Code

Citizen Scientists Count the Zebra with a Bar Code

The very first Great Grevy’s Rally created citizen scientists out of 450 people by sending them out into the field... Learn More
Empowering Women as Grevy's Zebra Scouts

Empowering Women as Grevy's Zebra Scouts

Ririan is a young woman who lives in northern Kenya with her husband and two children. The family has only... Learn More
From Uzbekistan to Kenya: Saiga Conservation Alliance Shares Conservation Learnings in Africa

From Uzbekistan to Kenya: Saiga Conservation Alliance Shares Conservation Learnings in Africa

What was a stuffed saiga antelope doing in Kenya? The little toy saiga traveled the whole way from Uzbekistan with... Learn More
Grazing to Save Grevy’s

Grazing to Save Grevy’s

“It looks like either the end of the world, or the beginning – I’m not sure which,” said my travel... Learn More
Great Grevy's Rally Uses Citizen Scientists to Count Population

Great Grevy's Rally Uses Citizen Scientists to Count Population

Citizen scientists will soon be part of a key weekend activity to monitor the population of the endangered Grevy’s zebras.... Learn More
Grevy's Zebra Trust Community Exposure Tour

Grevy's Zebra Trust Community Exposure Tour

Grevy’s Zebra Trust works with communities in some of Kenya’s most remote areas to save the endangered Grevy’s. In Marsabit... Learn More
How Camels and Zebras Connect

How Camels and Zebras Connect

How can camels help the Grevy’s zebra? Tracking zebras is hard work, but necessary. With less than 3,000 zebras left... Learn More
Photography Credits: Suzi Eszterhas, Jeff Bonner, Mia Collis, Jillian Knox, Grevy's Zebra Trust
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