A zebra drinks from a watering hole and is ambushed by a crocodile. What's more important and why: the zebra having a high maximum speed or a high acceleration?

before this type of attack, high acceleration is the most important thing.

Explanation:

As the zebra is ambushed by the crocodile the most important thing is a quick reaction, in this attack the most likely is that the crocodile is in the water so it cannot run after the zebra.

Consequently, before this type of attack, high acceleration is the most important thing.