What a way to earn your stripes: Zebras captured in bloody battle for dominance

By
Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 4:33 PM on 3rd January 2012

These aggressive zebras were left covered in blood after a vicious battle for supremacy in their herd.

The two males, thought to be aged around ten and four years old, were pictured gripped in a noisy and ferocious battle that lasted several hours.

Photographer Winfried Wisniewski was in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, to see the calving of 250,000 wildebeest.

Cross: These aggressive zebras were left covered in blood after a vicious battle for supremacy in their herd

Cross: These aggressive zebras were left covered in blood after a vicious battle for supremacy in their herd

The two males, thought to be aged around ten and four years old, were pictured in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania, having a noisy battle that lasted several hours

Tussle: The two males, thought to be aged around ten and
four years old, were pictured in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania,
having a noisy battle that lasted several hours

But the 62-year-old was stunned to see the common zebras kicking and biting each other so violently.

He said: ‘I watched for about an hour as the two stallions engaged in a serious and noisy fight.

‘They were fighting for dominance in a zebra family group of abut ten members.

‘It was obvious they had been fighting for a long time before we even arrived because both were seriously hurt.

‘I would say they had probably been fighting for a few hours.

‘The younger one seemed to be the dominant one but he tired and the older one eventually won.

‘The younger zebra gave up and disappeared.’

Zebras can weigh up to 900 lbs and measure 5ft at the shoulder

Hoof it: Zebras can weigh up to 900 lbs and measure 5ft at the shoulder

The pair kicked and bit each other in a vicious battle for dominance over a family group

Bloody: The pair kicked and bit each other in a vicious battle for dominance over a family group

Mr Wisniewski, from the Ruhr region of
Germany, added: ‘It was a a very hard and rare fight, and I thing my
images are sensational.

‘The older one is probably more than ten years old and the younger about four to six years, maybe younger.

‘You can see it by comparing the length of the teeth.’ Zebras can weigh up to 900 lbs and measure 5ft at the shoulder.

Each
individual has its own distinctive pattern of stripes that break up the
outline of the body, providing effective camouflage from predators like
lions or hyena.

The tussle was captured on camera by German photographer Winfried Wisniewski

Ferocious: The tussle was captured on camera by German photographer Winfried Wisniewski

The elder stallion was eventually prevailed and the younger slunk off

Stamina: The elder stallion was eventually prevailed and the younger slunk off

The zebra’s thin, long legs are also perfectly built for a swift escape from danger and they can run at up to 40 miles per hour.

Herds can be comprised of up to 1000 individuals, these are made up of family groups of between five and 20.

Zebras communicate through sounds and facial expressions. Laying the ears flat is a sign of aggression.

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Not the most pleasant pictures, but this is nature, and we must not poke our unwanted noses is.

To T Nandakumar
(sung to the Barry Manilow song, Copa Cabana)
Her name was Debra, she was a Zebra
and with her horizontal stripes, she stayed out rutting every night
the boys would drink and fight
she’d smile and watch their plight
the antelope would run in fright
at the seren, the serengeti, debra the zebra would watch them fight

This vicious battle lasts for hours, spewing hot air; ~~~
Face in contorted grimace, teeth ominously bared; ~~~
Both in anger, each one the other doesn’t spare; ~~~ //
Even for glorious death,they’re thoroughly prepared. ~~~
Oh, in this riotous fight, kicks come thick and fast; ~~~
Furious noise makes the air tumultuous raging: ~~~
Each one’s repertoire, by the other easily surpassed; ~~~
Defeated one slopes off, from the fight disengaging. ~~~ //
They were bitten badly, blood smeared on the skin; ~~~
Fought to the end to show who really reigns supreme; ~~~
Knows the danger, have learnt to take it on the chin: ~~~
Fight is relentlessly pursued, to the logical extreme. ~~~ //

i have 9 horses, none are stallions, they all live in one mixed herd on 34 acres yet whenever a mare comes into season he nutless geldings will always scrap for the right to try to mate her/be her boyfriend. and the fights can be vicious. we have had to use a fire extinguisher before now to separate a 24 yr old and a 2 yr old!! the oldest gelding always wins. (poor mares!!) although gotta say, the mares are very naughty and try to entice the loosers to come back close and flirt by tail flapping, prancing and mane swishing. im not joking either. total floozys. But its nature, and horses should be kept as horses… they have sexy feelings too you’know!!

Are sure this wasn’t in Germany?

Looks like a normal 4am at your average pub/club.
Even the facial expressions are exact.

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