Length – 250 to 260 cmsShoulder Height – 120 to 135 cms. The retired veterinarian, Dr. J. F. Warning of Somerset West, contacted Rau during the latter part of 1985. However, the tale is unsupported by photographs or other confirmatory evidence or sitings and therefore must remain to some degree speculative. He just had one male. Such large scale hunting in South Africa during the 19th century, has drastically reduced the one time abundance of wild life, resulting in the disappearance of some species in certain areas. Great numbers of raw animal hides were exported during the 19th century for the leather industry. Depending on how long they have been isolated, they may be on the verge of becoming separate species, as there is no more exchange of genes between these and other subspecies. If there are no geographical barriers which separate such populations or subspecies, the change in appearance is gradual and is referred to as “cline”. The name is still used to describe plains zebra. Because the species that we are discussing here, lives on the plains, in contrast to the Mountain Zebra, which prefers mountainous terrain, the term “Plains Zebra” for the species as a whole, with its various subspecies (and there is no agreement among scientists how many “subspecies” there are), is a much more sensible term than Burchell’s Zebra. Quagga Project animals grazing in South Africa. Nonetheless, the picture shows that were some significant differences in markings between quagga specimens. Like other grazing mammals in South Africa, quaggas were hunted for their valuable meat and hides. Pronounced correctly, the double “g” as a guttural “ch”, as in the Scottish word “loch”, and with the emphasis on the first syllable.” Quagga” is an imitation of the animals call, which it shared with the other Plains Zebras. Books such as “Portraits of the Game and Wild Animals of Southern Africa” (Harris, 1840), provide evidence of large scale killing of wild animals, done not only by the settlers, but also by those privileged to journey to the Cape of Good Hope to satisfy their lust for hunting. Both males and females left their natal group when they reach reproductive maturity. If various populations within a huge distribution area do differ from each other in appearance, they are considered different subspecies. There were no stripes on their legs. Few people realized that the quagga was distinct from other zebras and needed some form of protection until it was too late. Your email address will not be published. Against all expectations, the question of the taxonomic status of the Quagga was answered in 1984. During March 1987 nine zebras, out of approximately 2 500, were selected and captured at the Etosha National Park. The Quagga lives in large herds, and is much persecuted by the natives of Southern Africa, who pursue it for the sake of its skin and its flesh, both of which are in high estimation.”. However, the perception that the Quagga was singled out for extermination does not seem to be supported by other historical evidence. While excessive hunting played a major role in the disappearance of the Quagga, the confusion caused by indiscriminate, that is, general use of the term “Quagga”, for any zebra, also contributed substantially. The project is not without its critics, with some ecologists pointing out that the team are simply creating different looking zebra, with none of the quagga’s behaviours or ecological adaptations. If however, there are geographical barriers which separate populations that were formerly part of a unified distribution, such isolated populations or subspecies could differ from others more markedly. Researchers believe that this created some confusion and when it was recognized that they were different from other zebras, it was too late. Reproductive maturity is reached only at two to three years in mares and four to five years in stallions. Running down the center of the back was a broad, dark stripe – much like an asses’. Dr. Haltenorth saw merits in such a plan and expressed his surprise that such a programme had not already been started in South Africa. They are looking to breed a new quagga (to be called Rau quagga after the project founder) with six distinct characteristics: With each new generation of foals, these distinct colourings have indeed become stronger and more defined. The increased number of zebras led to a proportionate increase in the cost of feeding them, so much so that the limited funds of the project became stretched to the point where the breeding venue at Vrolijkheid had to be abandoned. The 3rd and 4th generation of “Rau quaggas” appear very much like the preserved specimens of the Quagga in museums. The aim was to breed animals which resemble the wild ancestors of both the domestic horse and domestic cattle. It was noticed that they were very similar to Burchell’s Zebra, and they were described and named as subspecies of Burchell’s Zebra. © 2020 Extinct Animals | All rights reserved. That there is enormous individual variation in, especially, the Plains Zebra (which is often refered to as Burchell’s Zebra), had not been expected nor realized until the early 1900’s. If a species of animal or plant has disappeared from the earth, either through natural causes, or through mankind’s activities, the loss is irreversible. However, the extinct Quagga was not a zebra species of its own but one of several subspecies or local forms of the Plains Zebra. That is simple, because if it is established that two former species names in fact refer to one and the same species, then the older of the two names takes precedence over the younger. The African tribe actually tamed quagga to use as equine watchdogs! Both the protein and the DNA confirmed the status of the Quagga as a subspecies of the Plains Zebra. The first foal was born on the 9th of December 1988. Secondly, the confusion caused by indiscriminate use of the term “Quagga”, for any zebra, prevented “last minute efforts” to save the Quagga from extinction. They were heavily hunted by the Dutch settlers. Only one living quagga was ever photographed (above) – a mare housed at London Zoo – when four or five pictures were taken of it in 1870. The farmers saw them as a serious competitor to domestic livestock for forage. The researchers involved in this project are reportedly trying to retrieve the genes (believed to be still present among living Plains Zebra populations) that is responsible for the brown color of the extinct animal. DNA analysis on quagga skins has shown that the quagga was not actually a unique species of zebra, but rather a subspecies of the plains zebra (Equus Quagga). Read latest Quagga DNA research results, as published online by the Royal Society in “Biology Letters”, 5 July 2005. Follow us for instant access to all of our best safari & wildlife content: 8 Tips to research & choose the right safari company, When, where & how to see the great migration. They were also hunted by the Afrikaners for their meat and skins (that was traded locally). In 1971, Reinhold Rau visited museums in Europe to examine most of the preserved Quagga specimens, after having dismantled and re-mounted the Quagga foal at the South African Museum in Cape Town in 1969/70. The Burchell’s Zebra, described and named in 1824, was still around. Grasses in the Karoo and southern Free State where Quaggas occurred, are sparse. Required fields are marked *. Journal of Molecular Evolution 25:283-287) that the mitochondrial DNA of the Quagga is identical to that of other Plains Zebras. Their capture and arrival at the specially constructed breeding camp complex at the Nature Conservation farm “Vrolijkheid”, near Robertson, in the Cape, on 24th April 1987, marked the commencement of the Quagga re-breeding project. Wild grass eating animals such as the Quagga were perceived by the settlers as competitors for their sheep, goats and other livestock. The quagga’s extinction is generally attributed to the “ruthless hunting”, and even “planned extermination” by colonists. The last known wild specimen died in 1878. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. ), A contemporary report from Rev JG Wood’s 1853 Illustrated Natural History states that: “The QUAGGA looks at first sight like a cross between the common wild ass and the zebra, as it only partially possesses the characteristic zebra-stripes, and is decorated merely upon the hind and fore-parts of the body. There are records of quaggas grazing in large mixed herds with other zebras, wildebeest, hartebeest, and ostriches. Three living zebra species, and one extinct “species”? The biochemists obtained protein and DNA fragments from the samples. The true Quagga vanished unnoticed. There has never been unanimous agreement between zoologists regarding the Quagga’s relationship to other members of the horse family. Consequently, all the other subspecies (with explorers’ names) should be called Chapman’s Burchell’s Zebra, Wahlberg’s Burchell’s Zebra, Selous’s Burchell’s Zebra, and the “extinct” subspecies burchelli should be called Burchell’s Burchell’s Zebra. Quaggas were also captured and sent to zoos in Europe. And that’s your lot for the unique quagga. There are an estimated 23 preserved quagga skins in existence today at museums around the world. The name “Quagga” has been spelt in a variety of ways, ra and Grevy Zebra (the latter which occurs only in East Africa). Please log in again. When it was realized that there are far too many names for zebras, and many were consequently made synonyms, the Quagga was no longer there. During the day, harems migrated to long grass pastures; while coming back to shorter grass areas at night. These stripes were stronger on the head and neck and gradually faded out behind the shoulder. The original Burchell’s Zebra (sometimes refered to as the “true” Burchell’s Zebra) is, or rather was, one of the subspecies of the species under discussion. A variety of zebra, known as the “Quagga”, inhabited the Karoo and southern Free State of South Africa well into the second half of the 19th century, when it became extinct. He was an expert in animal husbandry and had been associated in horse and cattle breeding for more than 50 years in Germany and Namibia.