Photo by beverlyjoubert / A utilitarian scene is made a little more striking thanks to the glow of cool morning air. It may not be the most graceful of pursuits, but a dust bath is the perfect way for zebras (and many other species) to dislodge pesky insects and keep their coats healthy. The plains zebra is such a seemingly ubiquitous presence in sub-Saharan Africa that we tend not to consider its conservation status. Yet there is reason to worry. Due to a growing number of threats, especially hunting for bushmeat and skins, their populations have declined by around 25% since 2002. The species is now listed as near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. #zebra #plainszebra #dustbath #wildlife