Zebra

Zebra

The Plains zebra (Equus quagga, formerly Equus burchelli), also known as the Common zebra or theZebra Burchell’s zebra, is the most common and geographically widespread form of zebra, once being found from the south of Ethiopia right through east Africa as far south as Angola and eastern South Africa. The Plains Zebra is much less numerous than it once was, because of human activities such as hunting it for its meat and hide, as well as encroachment on much of its former habitat, but it remains common in game reserves.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Plains Zebra is mid-sized and thick bodied with relatively short legs. Adults of both sexes stand about 1.4 meters (4.6 ft) high at the shoulder, are approximately 2.3 meters (8 ft) long, and weigh about 294 kg (646 lbs) however males may weigh 10% more than females. Like all zebras, it is boldly striped in black and white and no two individuals look exactly alike. All have vertical stripes on the forepart of the body, which tend towards the horizontal on the hindquarters. The northern populations have narrower and more defined striping; southern populations have varied but lesser amounts of striping on the under parts, the legs and the hindquarters. Southern populations also have brown “shadow” stripes between the black and white coloring.

STATUS

The Plains zebra’s range has diminished in modern times. While the population remains stable, zebras are threatened by hunting, for their hide and meat, and habitat change from farming. They compete with livestock for food. One subspecies, the quagga, is now extinct. Nevertheless, Plains zebras are protected as a game animal in most of their range. They are an important economic source in tourism.

WEAPONS USED

Zebra do NOT die easily. Tough, well constructed bullets should be used from a .30 caliber rifle and a .375 H & H Magnum is not too much gun. Shots are usually at short to medium range, but because they’re found in a wide variety of habitat, quality optics are a must.

For archery hunters, equipment suited for whitetail and elk will work just fine. Their incredible will to live make these animals tougher to bring down than most African Plains Game.