What's up with "Zebra Shrines"?

There are no zebras in Thailand.

So why are so many shrines and spirit houses throughout the country decorated with mall wooden statues of the animal?

Last week, I walked by a shrine at an intersection on Lat Prao Road that I've passed hundreds of times over the past few years. As always, the spirit house was full of offerings of red Fanta, marigold garlands, and statues of zebras.

I did some research. It turns out that these shrines are often placed near intersections.

The stripes on zebras look something like a crosswalk, or "zebra crossing".

Hence, people will make an offering of a small wooden zebra in order to pray for safety.

a zebra shrine on Lat Prao Road

Also, apparently the gods are quite fond of exotic animals.