Zebras in captivity.

[lintworm]

Do you have any evidence to substantiate your claims about Chapman’s zebras in the United States, or are you just assuming? There is likely Chapman’s blood in the plains zebra population in the States, but it is extremely unlikely there are any purebred animals left. The plains zebra population is largely hybridized— even many “Grant’s” zebras are to some degree hybrids, though there are far more purebred Grant’s left than there are Burchell’s. The plains zebra population is to be phased out of AZA institutions, single species zebra exhibits are to be replaced with Grevy’s and multi-species exhibits are to be replaced with Hartmann’s. In theory there should be space for another purebred population, but I can pretty much guarantee that will not happen. With the changes coming down the pipeline for SSP and related programs within the AZA, we can really only expect decreases in programs and decreases in species.

Same in Europe, many Plains Zebra are simply hybrids, but not signed as such (in the zoo and on zootierliste). Many animals phenotypically look like the signed subspecies, but there has been a lot of hybridization in the past.

 

[red river hog]

Do you have any evidence to substantiate your claims about Chapman’s zebras in the United States, or are you just assuming? There is likely Chapman’s blood in the plains zebra population in the States, but it is extremely unlikely there are any purebred animals left. The plains zebra population is largely hybridized— even many “Grant’s” zebras are to some degree hybrids, though there are far more purebred Grant’s left than there are Burchell’s. The plains zebra population is to be phased out of AZA institutions, single species zebra exhibits are to be replaced with Grevy’s and multi-species exhibits are to be replaced with Hartmann’s. In theory there should be space for another purebred population, but I can pretty much guarantee that will not happen. With the changes coming down the pipeline for SSP and related programs within the AZA, we can really only expect decreases in programs and decreases in species.

I'm not assuming, but it more be a guess based off of pictures and species lists etc. I believe I've seen a species list that had Chapman's Zebras. It also makes sense about the hybrids, because I've been to multiple zoos with hybrid Plains Zebras.

 

[Jurek7]

About the aggression of zebras towards other animals:

Shouldn't zebras receive toys and enrichment to vent their curiosity and aggression? Environmental enrichment is common for zoo animals, but zebras rarely or never receive it. And they obviously are curious animals.

I know of one zebra stallion which spend hours in the place of exhibit from where he could see his reflection in glass. Maybe give zebras protected mirrors? Or big toys which they could fight, for example hanging straw-filled sacs or hanging wooden blocks painted black and white? Even if this does not work for zebras, it would be a great conversation item to increase publicity of the zoo.

Put diverse small items which zebras can play with, instead of pestering smaller exhibit mates?

 

[Wisp O' Mist]

About the aggression of zebras towards other animals:

Shouldn't zebras receive toys and enrichment to vent their curiosity and aggression? Environmental enrichment is common for zoo animals, but zebras rarely or never receive it. And they obviously are curious animals.

I know of one zebra stallion which spend hours in the place of exhibit from where he could see his reflection in glass. Maybe give zebras protected mirrors? Or big toys which they could fight, for example hanging straw-filled sacs or hanging wooden blocks painted black and white? Even if this does not work for zebras, it would be a great conversation item to increase publicity of the zoo.

Put diverse small items which zebras can play with, instead of pestering smaller exhibit mates?

It admittedly does weird me out that zoos more often than not, don't just treat their zebras like horses when it comes to enrichment. There's so much written on enrichment for horses! And virtually all of it could be applicable to zebras in zoos!

Scattering grain around the exhibit, putting non-edible fillers in feed pans, self-grooming items, ice blocks with produce frozen in them, treat balls forage boxes, planting non-toxic herbs in the habitat for forage, brush piles of edible trees and bushes, exercise balls, jolly balls, traffic cones, hanging hay in nets, hay pillows, hanging salt blocks, perfumes and spices...

The list goes on and on! It would not be hard to enrich most zebras in zoos just using some of the things or methods that I posted.