Zebras

Zebras are equines that appear in The Lion Guard universe. They live in the Pride Lands and the Back Lands.
==Appearance==
Zebras have black and white stripes that are typically vertical on the head, neck, forequarters, and main body, with horizontal stripes at the rear and on the legs of the animal. Their eyes are on the sides if their heads to give them a wider view,
==Information==
===In the Real World===
A zebra's main predator is the lion, but since zebras are herd animals, the stripes may help to confuse predators - a number of zebras standing or moving close together may appear as one large animal, making it more difficult for the lion to pick out any single zebra to attack. Zebras live on the plains, in mountains and in grasslands. Contrary to popular belief, zebras are black with white stripes, as proven by embryonic studies. Zebras and horses are a part of the same Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, and Genus. What separates zebras and horses is that zebras are part of the Subgenus Hippotigris and Dolichohippus, while horses are part of the Species E. ferus and Subspecies E. f. caballus. Since Zebras don't kill other animals, their only reapons are their hooves and their blunt teeth, showing that zebras are one of the most aggressive prey animals. Zebras can be highly aggressive and bite, kick, and push predators. They are powerful and can change from a state of calm to extreme panic in seconds. Zebras have been known to kick each other to death, they will viciously bite any human that comes too close, and there are even many accounts of a zebra's powerful hind kick can kill or disembowel a lion as well as their kicks can injure a lion's jaw. Females are called mares.
===In The Lion Guard===
Zebras are known for their strategy of panicking and running whenever something scares them, however, not all zebras do so. It seems that they are unfamiliar with thunder. In the past, falling rocks have caused them to run. These zebras differ from real world zebras, in the fact that they neigh, nicker, and whinny, which real zebras are incapable of
According to Thurston, zebras have the best hearing and taste better than all the other animals in the Pride Lands. He also says that they have the best sense of direction, but he can't be trusted on this as he constantly gets lost and confused about where he is.
==History==
===The Lion Guard===
Thurston the zebra serves as a minor character in The Lion Guard and appears frequently throughout the series.
===The Lion Guard: Return of the Roar===
Zebra also appear in the song Tonight We Strike several times, twice standing with a group of Pride Land animals, once supporting the weight of seven other animals on its back, and once being surrounded by Hyenas.
===Never Judge a Hyena by Its Spots===
The zebra herd is seen peacefully grazing. Their leader, Thurston, approaches the Lion Guard and talks to them briefly. They direct him back to his herd when he forgets where he was going.
===The Rise of Makuu===
The zebra herd watches the Mashindano between Makuu and Pua. When Makuu later forces the hippos out of Big Springs, it results in the elephants moving to the grazing ground of the zebras, causing the zebras to move into the acacia savannah where the giraffes live.
===Bunga the Wise===
When Lake Kaziwa floods, Bunga gets the idea of blocking the water with a dam. Thurston the zebra compliments him on his idea. Later, multiple zebras are seen waiting in line to ask Bunga "the Wise" for advice. A few zebras accompany him as he spreads his advice around the Pride Lands. When the dam shatters, the zebra herd is right in its path. Beshte blocks the water the best that he can, giving the herd time to run. Ono accidentally directs them to a dead end, but Kion uses the Roar of the Elders to save the zebras and the other Pride Landers.
===Can't Wait to be Queen===
A herd of zebras appears during the song Duties of the King when Zazu mentions that one of the king's duties is to "listen to the zebras' silly pleas".
=== Eye of the Beholder ===
A pair of zebras are visible when Ono flies over the Pride Lands to prove that he can still see.
Janja's Clan plots to attack the zebras due to Ono of the Lion Guard losing the sight from one of his eyes. Many zebras are seen as the hyenas envision their plan. When the Lion Guard tries to stop the hyenas, they end up trapped in a ravine, courtesy of Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu. Ono arrives to the Guard despite hi
injury, and receives orders from Kion to move the zebra herd. He is unsuccessful in trying to convince Thurston to move, and resorts to diving at them, scaring them into flight. The zebras move to another grazing ground, and Kion is able to use the Roar without hurting them.
===The Kupatana Celebration===
Many zebras arrive at Mizimu Grove to celebrate Kupatana.
===Fuli's New Family===
A herd of zebras appears during the song My Own Way when Fuli dashes through them. They run through the Pride Lands with the other Pride Landers.
=== Follow That Hippo! ===
A pair of zebras are grazing peacefully when a young zebra named Kwato, a mongoose named Shauku, and an elephant named Mtoto emerge from the grass. Mtoto yells that the hyenas are attacking, and a couple of zebras panic and run, only to crash into each other. All of the zebras, three in all, gather with the other Pride Landers as the Lion Guard arrives on the scene. However, it turns out to have been nothing but Kwato and his friends playing a game.
Later, after Mtoto trains with the Lion Guard, he rejoins Kwato and the others. They begin to play a game and chase some hyraxes through the Pride Lands. Meanwhile, Beshte reassures Thurston and some other animals that they are safe from hyenas, but Thurston is annoyed by the fact that they have to run from hyenas frequently despite living in the Pride Lands. 
Once Kwato and his friends finish their game, they are attacked by Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu. As Beshte continues speaking to the group of animals, Thurston is still uncertain of his safety, declaring that zebras taste better than any other animal in the Pride Lands and that the hyenas are aware of this, but a giraffe is skeptical of his claim. Suddenly, Kwato, Shauku, Kambuni, and Gumba arrive, reporting that Mtoto is being chased by hyenas. Thurston doesn't believe this, but Gumba is insistent, and Beshte goes to help. After Beshte saves Mtoto, Kion presumably gives Kwato and his friends the Mark of the Guard.
===Paintings and Predictions===
As Bunga experiments with Rafiki's staff in the Lair of the Lion Guard, he touches it to a painting of a zebra herd, then to a painting of falling rocks. Soon, Ono flies into the Lair, announcing that the zebras are stampeding. Kion decides to stop the zebras before they hurt someone, and the Guard heads out.
As the zebras stampede, with the Lion Guard running alongside them, Bunga notices some rocks ahead that are trembling and realizes that they look just like the ones in the painting, as do the zebras. Ono notices these too, and Beshte pushes the zebras, causing them to change directions so that when the rocks fall, the zebras are not hurt. Fuli slows them down, assuring them that they're safe now. Kion and Fuli question Thurston about the stampede, and he reveals that they heard a loud "boom", which scared them, so they did what they always did when something frightened them: panicked and ran. Ono figures that the herd was scared by thunder, and assures Thurston that the storm has passed. He then leads the zebras back to their grazing grounds. A female zebra thanks him, and the herd begins to graze.
Janja, Cheezi, and Chungu lurk nearby. Janja plots to attack the zebras, and together the trio sings Panic and Run, which focuses on zebras and their first choice of defense. They then attack the zebras, who promptly panic and run. Ono fetches the rest of the Guard, who drive the hyenas away. However, when Ono counts the herd, three zebras are at Maji Baridi Falls, separated from the herd. The Guard sets off to find them, but when they reach the trio- consisting of the female zebra, Thurston, and a foal- Beshte accidentally bumps into a rock, which frightens the zebras, causing them to panic and run right into a river, which sweeps them over the Falls. Kion uses his Roar of the Elders to blast the water back and save them.
Back at the Lair, Rafiki reveals that Bunga had watched the paintings backwards, and that sometime in the past, falling rocks had caused zebras to run.
===The Mbali Fields Migration===
The Lion Guard is tasked with leading Muhimu's herd of zebras to Mbali Fields.
===The Imaginary Okapi===
Some zebras are seen grazing as Beshte tours around the Pride Lands with Ajabu, singing Life in the Pride Lands as they pass.
===Never Roar Again===
Some zebras can be found relaxing in The Flood Plains. They ran when Makuu's float attacked them.
===The Trail to Udugu===
 At the end of the episode, some zebras can be seen grazing in the Pride Lands near Pride Rock.
===Babysitter Bunga===
Muhimu's herd are chased by Reirei's Pack. Later, Hamu stays with Bunga at Hakuna Matata Falls while his mother relaxes at the Watering Hole.
===The Traveling Baboon Show===
Some zebras watch The Traveling Baboon Show perform.
===Swept Away===
Some members of Thurston's Herd get stuck in the mud, requiring the assistance of the Lion Guard to help free them.
===Rafiki's New Neighbors===
Some zebras attend Makini's Painting Ceremony.
===Rescue in the Outlands===
After learning that the Tsetse Flies dislike the stripes on zebras, the Lion Guard ask Thurston for his help in saving Jasiri, Tunu and Wema. When the flies return later, the Lion Guard ask to hang out with the zebras.
===The Golden Zebra===
When there is a drought in the Pride Lands, the guard travels to the Backlands to talk to a golden zebra named Dhahabu. After the problem of the missing water has been solved she allows to share her herd's watering hole with the pridelanders.
===The Scorpion's Sting===
Thurston's herd is at Pride Rock and attends the Kumbuka celebration. 
===Undercover Kinyonga===
Thurston yelling "panic and run", and his whole herd starts to run. Thurston and his herd are firm that the rock was talking to them. It turns out to be a chameleon named Kinyonga. 
===The Zebra Mastermind===
Thurtston brags to his herd how he's the real reason the Lion Guard are so successful. His herd agrees with this.  
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===The Underground Adventure===
After escaping from a fire made by Scar Kion, Bunga,  Kiara,  Tiifu and  Zuri get lost in tunnles. Thurston gets lost too but he didn't know until Bunga told him. He starts to panic and run but Tifu calms him down.
===Beshte and the Beast===
Thurston's herd comes to the Watering Hole to get a drink. Bunga holds them back and says that they need to wait for the giraffs. Thurston complains on how the giraffs take a long time to drink because of their long necks.  
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===The Queen's Visit===
Dhahabu and her herd come into the Pride Lands as guests. Simba has a celebration for them to thank them for their help.While Kiara, Tiifu and Zuri show Dhahahbu around the Pride Lands. During the tour a fire happens caused by Dry Lighting. Fuli helps the girls over while the Lion Guard tand Kiara takes out the fire. After seeing Fuli in action Dhahabu asks for her along with Tiifu and Zuri to be her royal guards. Starehe and Raha bump into the Lion Guard and said that they were missing Dhahabu. Reirei's pack tries to attack Dhahabu and the Lion Guard, Starehe and Raha attacked them. However Dhahabu didn't see them and wants Fuli, Tiifu and Zuri to be her permant guards. The girls don't agree and Kion thinks that Starehe and Raha should be her guards. Reirei's pack comes back again joined by a couple of crocodiles. Starehe and Raha save her again and Dhahabu makes them her permant guards. That night she tells the Pride Landers that they could use their watering hole forever.
===The Fall of Mizimu Grove===
Thurston's herd and Muhimu's herd comes to watch the show at Mizimu Grove. However the Army of Scar interupts the show. A short while after Scar reveals himself in front of the Pride Landers. After explaining his plans he disappears and the herds start to panic and run. Once all calmed they start talking about leaving the Pride Lands. The next morning they meet at Pride Rock. Everyone follows Kion back to Mizimu Grove where Makini's Mpando Mpaya survvied the attack. Everyone agrees to stay in the Pride Lands and Makini plants her baobab tree. 
===Battle for the Pride Lands===
Thurston says that his zebras will help protect the Pride Lands while the guard is gone. Kion thanks him and says his name. Thurston then tells his herd that Kion did know his name.
===The Harmattan===
Zebras appear during the song The Tree of Life.  
===The Accidental Avalanche=== 
The zebras are mentioned when they panic and run every time they see Anga.
===Return to the Pride Lands===
Laini goes to get Kion's lion guard and  Vitani's Lion Guard to help out Thurston. Azaad tells Thurston to try moving back and Thurston gets free. He tells the two guards to have a competition to see who is the better Lion Guard. Thurston appears at the Tree of Life to watch Kion become Rani's king.
==Notable Zebras in The Lion Guard==
*Dhahabu's Herd
** Dhahabu  
** Raha  
**Starehe 
*Thurston's Herd
** Thurston 
** Kwato 
*Muhimu's Herd
** Muhimu 
** Hamu 
==Trivia==
*The zebra is featured in the UnBungalievable short, Who Has Better Hair?.
*Zebras can gallop nearly 42 m/h.
*While they are together, zebra stripes make it hard for predators to distinguish one from another.
*Zebra herds are tight-knit.
*When lions hunt zebra families, only one fifth of attempts are successful.
*Karamjong women paint stripes on themselves to mimic zebras in dances, for they represent health and vitality to their people.
Category:Animals
Category:Back Landers
Category:Mammals
Category:Pride Landers
Category:Real Life
Category:Zebras
Category:Equids