Page 35 - The World of Animals

Do you know that zebras very much like to take dust-baths?
Indeed, zebras are very fond of dust-baths. That is because, dust-
baths remove the parasites living on their bodies. Apart from this,

zebras have guests that accompany them and help them in their

cleaning. Oxpeckers feed on the ticks found on the hides of zebras.
This way, one by one they pick the parasites that make zebras sick
and cause them to itch. As you see, our Lord, Who plans and

controls the lives of all the creatures and makes them helpers for

each other, has also assigned some animals as helpers of others.
About half an hour after birth, a new-born zebra stands up and
begins to walk, though in a faltering trembling manner. No sooner

do they walk than they begin to suck their mothers' milk. Milk is

very beneficial for a new-born creature. This milk, which is pink in
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colour by a special creation of Allah, protects them from illnesses
from birth onwards. Besides that, it secures the proper functioning

of their intestines.

Zebras, as is the case with all other creatures under Allah's
protection, are equipped with defence mechanisms that Allah has
taught them. The first of these

defence mechanisms is their very

sensitive sensory organs, such as
seeing, hearing and smell,
which Allah has given them at

birth. The sensitivity of these

sensory organs enables zebras
to notice their predators quickly
and run away. No sooner do