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Preventing Hybridization of Cape Mountain Zebra

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Preventing Hybridization of Cape Mountain Zebra PREVENTING HYBRIDIZATION OF CAPE MOUNTAIN ZEBRA There are three types of zebra in the Western Cape but only one, the Cape mountain zebra (CMZ, PHOTO: Martin Harvey PHOTO: Equus zebra zebra), occurs here naturally. Cape mountain zebra Hartmann’s zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae) and CAN YOU SPOT plains zebra (Equus quagga burchelli) were introduced THE DIFFERENCE? into the province. Some of these animals escaped from their points of introduction and now roam freely across the landscape. Both plains and Hartmann’s zebra can mate with CMZ. Foals resulting from a CMZ-Hartmann’s cross will The quagga, Equus quagga probably be fertile, resulting in contamination of both quagga, a subspecies of the the CMZ and Hartmann’s gene pools. Although CMZ- plains zebra, used to occur plains foals will likely be infertile, such crosses are wasted Cape mountain zebra in the Western Cape but reproductive opportunities for both species. Zebra can is now extinct. also interbreed with donkeys and horses. Hartmann’s zebra PHOTO: Kevin Shaw Kevin PHOTO: Trail camera image of a cross between a wild Horse-CMZ hybrid, Bredasdorp area horse and a Hartmann’s zebra (Namibia) Plains zebra Familiarize yourself with the WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP differences between the different zebra types, using this pamphlet as a If you keep zebra on your property or want guide (see overleaf). But note that although to introduce zebra, please make sure that some hybrids look obviously different from CMZ, not all you have a permit from CapeNature to do hybrids can be distinguished on the basis of physical features so. Find out from CapeNature if you need to – sometimes, a genetic test is necessary. We don’t yet know register your property with the Department of Agriculture, what a CMZ-Hartmann’s hybrid looks like. Land Reform and Rural Development as a zebra destination in terms of the African Horse Sickness regulations. If you spot a zebra of unknown origin on your property, or if you Maintain your fences so that your zebra suspect there is a hybrid zebra, cannot come into contact with other types of please inform CapeNature zebra, or donkeys or horses. and, if possible, provide photographs of the animal. Oudtshoorn: Theresa van der Westhuizen, 087-0873023 / [email protected] Vrolijkheid: Corné Claassen, 087-0873897 / [email protected] Porterville: Donny Malherbe, 087-0873010 / [email protected] CONTACT DETAILS: Kogelberg: Steve Gildenhuys, 087-0874118 / [email protected] CMZ Hartmann’s Plains CMZ-Plains cross SIZE Small (about 2/3 the weight Large Large Large (but could be variable) of the other zebra types) HEAD AND NECK MANE BETWEEN EARS PHOTO: Marius Brand PHOTO: Short and doesn’t extend Long and extends onto Long and woolly, and Intermediate, longer than CMZ onto forehead forehead extends onto forehead (but could be variable) INNER EAR BLACK OUTLINE Ye s No No No (but could be variable) MUZZLE COLOUR Reddish-brown Reddish-brown Reddish-brown Blackish-brown (but could be variable) DEWLAP Yes, especially stallions Prominent No Sometimes STRIPES UNDER BELLY PHOTO: Marius Brand PHOTO: Marius Brand PHOTO: Megan Taplin PHOTO: No No Ye s Yes (but could be variable) SHADOW STRIPES Ye s No Some animals Ye s (but could be variable) RUMP STRIPES Relative width of stripes Black stripes wider than white White stripes wider than black White stripes wider than black could be variable RUMP CHEVRON No Ye s Ye s No (but could be variable) LEGS Stripes not Stripes mostly Prominent Prominent prominent; on outside of stripes right stripes right mostly on the leg; fade around the leg around the leg outside of the away towards down to the down to the leg; fade away the hoof (but hoof hoof towards the could be hoof variable).
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