The quagga, a distinctive equid, once roamed the grasslands of Southern Africa, captivating observers with its unique appearance. This animal, a subspecies of the plains zebra, exhibited a striking coat pattern unlike any other.
A Unique Equid
The quagga (Equus quagga quagga) was a subspecies of the plains zebra (Equus quagga). It stood approximately 125–135 cm (4 ft 1 in – 4 ft 5 in) tall at the shoulders, measured around 257 cm (8 ft 5 in) in length, and weighed between 250 and 300 kg (550-660 pounds). Its body featured a unique pattern of dark brown or black stripes on a white to brown background, with unstriped legs.
The stripes were prominent on its head and neck, gradually fading and becoming more spread out on its mid-section. Its hindquarters were a plain reddish-brown, appearing more horse-like, with the stripes often disappearing entirely. This striking pattern varied considerably between individuals, with some even having a broad dark dorsal stripe along their back. The quagga inhabited the arid to temperate grasslands and savannas of the Karoo region in South Africa.
The Path to Extinction
The quagga’s rapid decline was directly linked to European settlement in South Africa. Overhunting for meat and hides depleted their populations. Settlers viewed quaggas as competitors for grazing land, as they consumed forage needed for domesticated livestock. This competition led to extensive culling efforts.
The last wild quagga was likely killed by hunters around 1878. The final known individual, a mare, died in captivity at the Natura Artis Magistra zoo in Amsterdam on August 12, 1883. At the time, its death was not recognized as the extinction of its kind, and the zoo even requested another specimen, unaware that none remained.
The Quagga Project
The Quagga Project, initiated in 1987, aims to breed back animals that physically resemble the extinct quagga. This effort was founded on the scientific understanding, solidified by DNA analysis in 1984, that the quagga was a subspecies of the plains zebra, not a distinct species. This suggested the genes for the quagga’s unique coat pattern might still exist within plains zebra populations.
The project’s methodology centers on selective breeding from plains zebras exhibiting quagga-like characteristics, such as reduced striping on their hindquarters and legs. Reinhold Rau, a taxidermist at the South African Museum, observed variations in plains zebra herds, noting animals with fewer stripes and browner coats. Nineteen plains zebras from Namibia’s Etosha National Park and reserves in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, formed the initial breeding stock in 1987. These animals were selected for their coat characteristics, with less striped individuals retained for breeding.
Understanding the “New” Quagga
The Quagga Project’s efforts have yielded animals known as “Rau quaggas,” named after Reinhold Rau. These zebras represent the project’s success in recreating the quagga’s distinctive appearance, with individuals born in the fourth and fifth generations showing significant reductions in striping on their legs and hindquarters. Rau quaggas are defined by having no scorable stripes on their hind bodies and minimal to no stripes on their legs.
The project’s ability to concentrate the quagga’s pelage genes in just three to four generations suggests a close genetic relationship between the quagga and other plains zebra populations. The existence of these Rau quaggas has sparked scientific discussion regarding the implications of “breeding back” projects. While they physically resemble the extinct quagga, they may not possess all the physiological adaptations of the original animals, which evolved in the arid Karoo conditions. The Quagga Project serves as a testament to conservation efforts and the ongoing quest to understand and potentially restore aspects of lost biodiversity.