Quagga
The Quagga Equus quagga quagga was a subspecies of the plains zebra that was native to South Africa. Unlike other zebras, the Quagga had stripes only on the front half of its body, with the back half being a solid brown. It was one of the first animals in Africa to be domesticated and was often used to pull carts.
The Quagga was hunted to extinction in the 19th century, with the last known individual dying in an Amsterdam zoo in 1883.
The Quagga's extinction was a result of overhunting for its meat and hide, as well as competition with domestic livestock for grazing land. In a unique conservation effort known as the Quagga Project, breeders are attempting to recreate the Quagga by selectively breeding plains zebras that have quagga-like characteristics. The goal is to breed zebras that resemble the extinct Quagga and reintroduce them to their native habitat. While the project has produced zebras with reduced striping, it is still a work in progress and a testament to the efforts to bring back a lost species. The Quagga's story highlights the impact of human activity on wildlife and the importance of conservation.
Quagga
Classification
Mammalia > Perissodactyla > Equidae > Equus > E. quagga quagga
Native To
Conservation Status
Average Height
4 - 5 feet
(1.2 - 1.5 m)
Average Weight
440 - 990 lbs
(200 - 450 kg)
Average Life Span
20 - 30 years
Gestation Period
360 - 390 days
Did You Know?
The Quagga was a subspecies of the plains zebra, native to South Africa.
Unlike other zebras, the Quagga had stripes only on the front part of its body, fading into a plain brown toward the rear.
The last known wild Quagga was likely killed in the late 1870s, and the last captive individual died in 1883.
Its name, "Quagga," comes from the Khoikhoi language and is onomatopoeic, resembling its distinctive bark-like call.
Scientists have attempted to "breed back" the Quagga through a selective breeding program of plains zebras, known as the Quagga Project.
The Quagga was well-adapted to the arid grasslands and savannas of South Africa.
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