Plains zebras, Etosha National Park, Namibia (© Mogens Trolle/Shutterstock)

Some animals whisper their way through the wild. Zebras don't. They show up in high-contrast stripes, act like it's the most practical outfit ever invented—and somehow, it is. International Zebra Day, celebrated on January 31, gives these black-and-white originals their moment to step out of the herd and into the spotlight.