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Plains Zebra Equus quagga – Plains Zebra emphasise ecological and morphological differences for management purposes. Following Groves and Bell (2004), six morphologically defined subspecies are listed as: Equus q. crawshaii (Crawshay’s Zebra) occurs in east Zambia, east of Luangwa River, Malawi, south- eastern Tanzania, and Mozambique as far south as the Gorongoza district. Equus q. borensis (Maneless Zebra) ranges over the northern parts of east Africa from north-west Kenya to the Karamoja district of Uganda and south-east Sudan, east of the Nile River (Boma National Park) to the northern limit of the species’ range (32 °N). E. Do Linh San Equus q. boehmi (Grant’s Zebra or Boehm’s Zebra) is found in Zambia, west of the Luangwa River, west Regional Red List status (2016) Least Concern to Kariba, the Shaba Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo north to Kibanzao Plateau, National Red List status (2004) Least Concern Tanzania north from Nyangaui abnd Kibwezi into Reasons for change No change south-west Uganda, south-west Kenya, and east Kenya, east of the Rift Valley, into southern Ethiopia Global Red List status (2016) Near Threatened and perhaps to the Juba River in Somalia. This A2a+3c+4ac subspecies constitutes of over 75% of Africa’s Plain TOPS listing (NEMBA) None Zebra population, and the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem supports approximately 200,000 CITES listing None individuals (East 1997; Hack et al. 2002). Endemic No Equus q. chapmani (Chapman’s Zebra) ranges from north-east South Africa, from about 24 °S, 31 °E, A recent study in Namibia and Botswana north to Zimbabwe, west into Botswana at about described a formerly unknown migration of Plains 19 °S, 24 °E, across the Caprivi Strip in Namibia, and Zebra from the Chobe River to Nxai Pan National into southern Angola. Park. This migration is now suggested to be the Equus q. burchellii (Burchell’s Zebra) formally longest of all documented migrations occurred north of the Vaal/Orange Rivers, extending by large mammals in Africa north-west via Botswana to Etosha National Park (Naidoo et al. 2016). and the Kaokoveld, south-east to KwaZulu-Natal and Swaziland. It is now extinct in the middle of its range. Equus. q. antiquorum is now included in this subspecies. Taxonomy Equus q. quagga (Cape Quagga) occurred in the Equus quagga (Boddaert 1785) former Cape Province, south of the Orange and Vaal Rivers and west of the Drakensberg. This ANIMALIA - CHORDATA - MAMMALIA - subspecies has been extinct since 1883. PERISSODACTYLA - EQUIDAE - Equus - quagga Research indicates that the extinct E. q. quagga might Synonyms: Equus burchelli (Gray 1824) [orth. error] differ morphologically from other Plains Zebra subspecies, Common names: Plains Zebra, Burchell’s Zebra, but those differences are not sufficient to justify its Common Zebra, Painted Zebra (English), Bontsebra classification as an independent species. Thus the extinct (Afrikaans), Idube (Ndebele, Zulu), Iqwarhashe (Xhosa) E. q. quagga should be considered a subspecies of E. quagga. From north to south of their geographic range, Taxonomic status: Species extant Plains Zebras show a gradual decline in the Taxonomic notes: Groves and Bell (2004) described six contrast between dark stripes and white interspaces, and subspecies of Equus quagga based on craniometric an increase in body size is noted from east to south taxonomic methods, which showed all subspecies to be (Lorenzen et al. 2008). The extinct Cape Quagga, which alike, and distinctly different from Mountain Zebras (Equus was found at the southern limit of the species’ geographic zebra). The six subspecies differ from one another in range, exhibited the extreme case of this trend in pelage morphological characteristics, such as coat patterns and colouration (Groves & Bell 2004; Lorenzen et al. 2008). colouration, body size, and the presence (or absence) of a mane (Groves & Bell 2004). Although there is limited evidence for genetic diversity between subspecies and the Assessment Rationale classification may be a contested topic (Bennett 1980), a Plains Zebras are listed as Least Concern because they classification of subspecies can be useful as a way to are widespread and abundant throughout the assessment Recommended citation: Stears K, Shrader A, Castley G. 2016. A conservation assessment of Equus quagga. In Child MF, Roxburgh L, Do Linh San E, Raimondo D, Davies-Mostert HT, editors. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. South African National Biodiversity Institute and Endangered Wildlife Trust, South Africa. The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland Equus quagga | 1 Figure 1. Distribution records for Plains Zebra (Equus quagga) within the assessment region Table 1. Countries of occurrence within southern Africa parks, such as KNP and the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA), however the Country Presence Origin remaining population is typically restricted to private, Botswana Extant Native provincial and national protected areas. A degree of genetic dispersal occurs through the translocation of Lesotho Extinct Native individuals between these protected areas via game sales. Mozambique Extant Native No rescue effects are necessary. Namibia Extant Native South Africa Extant Native Distribution Swaziland Extant Native This species ranges from the northern region of South Africa northwards to southern Sudan and Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe Extant Native westwards into northern Namibia and southern Angola (Hack et al. 2002). Historically, Plains Zebra exhibited a much broader range across the African continent, and region and, at present, there are no major threats affecting fossil remains have been discovered from North Africa the population. Within South African National Parks alone, (Churcher & Richardson 1978). More recently, Plains there are an estimated 31,948–46,237 individuals (counts Zebra ranged throughout eastern and southern Africa, conducted from 2010–2012), with Kruger National Park with only the exception of the forest belts of Uganda (KNP) containing the bulk of the population (29,161– (Duncan 1992), and extended southwards across the 43,450 individuals). The expansion of wildlife ranches Orange and Vaal Rivers in South Africa to the Cape, with across the country is also increasing the abundance of the subspecies E. q. quagga, which is now extinct (Groves this species. The only real threat to this species is the & Bell 2004). The species is also now extinct in Burundi fragmentation of its habitat, being restricted to fenced and Lesotho, and there remains a question over their areas, which increases its risk to drought and other presence in Angola. disturbances. Continued protected area expansion through transfrontier conservation areas, conservancies Within the assessment region, the natural range of the and stewardship schemes should be employed to Plains Zebra is found in the eastern Lowveld and the enhance free movement of Plains Zebra in response to KwaZulu-Natal lowlands, and into the Northern Cape climatic variability, and changes in the availability of forage (Figure 1). Subpopulations have been widely reintroduced and water. across their natural range, for example, in North West Province where they once occurred throughout the Regional population effects: Within the assessment province (du Plessis 1969; Rautenbach 1982; Power region, migration does take place within transfrontier 2014). A migratory subpopulation exists in the KNP; Equus quagga | 2 The Red List of Mammals of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland however, most other populations do not have sufficient 0.9 animals / km² in KNP (Smuts 1976). Densities are also area in which to migrate seasonally. Subpopulations of the expected to vary seasonally in migratory regions, as not species have been introduced into areas outside of its all individuals migrate (Hack et al. 2012). natural range (Figure 1). The Greater Mapungubwe Current population trend: Increasing Transfrontier Conservation Area (between South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe) also supports a subpopulation, Continuing decline in mature individuals: No and approximately 300 individuals are within the Botswana section. Number of mature individuals in population: 35,522– 41,443 Number of mature individuals in largest subpopulation: Population 17,497–30,415 animals in KNP. The Plains Zebra is common, widespread and amongst the most abundant of all grazing mammals in Africa, with a Number of subpopulations: At least 97 in formally total population size of 663,212 individuals estimated in protected areas. 2002 (Hack et al. 2002). Recent information regarding Severely fragmented: Yes, with the exception of Greater global overall population numbers is limited. However, Limpopo Transfrontier Park and Mapungubwe during the previous decades, this species has been Transfrontier Conservation Area, all reserves are fenced, extirpated from portions of its range (Hack et al. 2002). and do not allow for natural movements and migrations. Within the assessment region, the population is Translocations of individuals do contribute towards gene increasing, both on formally protected areas and the flow. expansion of private wildlife ranches. For example, the subpopulation on Golden Gates Highlands National Park, Free State Province, has increased from 131 to 1,592 Habitats and Ecology individuals between 1994 and 2016 (Bissett et al. 2016). With the exception of a few extreme environments, such Similarly, on Chelmsford Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal as deserts, dune forests and rain forests,
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