The zebra’s iconic striped pattern and captivating eyes remain a source of enduring fascination for zoo visitors and safari tourists alike. For scientists and animal breeders, though, the similarities between zebras and horses has posed something of an evolutionary conundrum: why are there domesticated horses but not domesticated zebras? To this day, the species remains absent from any and all domesticated animal farms and ranches.

The primary theory on why zebras have not been domesticated and can’t be cross-bred with horses is because a true genetic difference exists between them and the horses we’ve come to know and raise on farms. Simply put, zebras are not the same species as horses, and this difference makes them a difficult species to tame and train. However, even with this understanding, the full story of why these animals have yet to be successfully domesticated remains shrouded in mystery.

Taming is Not the Same as Domestication

The first thing to keep in mind is that taming and domestication are two entirely different processes. Taming is a practice that involves human interaction and works to make an animal less fearful and more easily handled. Essentially taming is the practice of taking an animal out of the wild and training it to behave in an appropriate way. This is different than domestication which involves a species undergoing significant evolutionary changes to become more accustomed to living with humans after generations of selective breeding and exposure to the human environment.

In the case of horses, taming began 7,000 years ago, followed by selective breeding which finally resulted in “modern horses”. The equine species has been domesticated for thousands of years, which has enabled us to produce animals of different sizes and shapes for various functions, from racing to military cavalry.

Differences between Horses and Zebras Make Domestication Difficult

However, the differences between horses and zebras make the process of taming, let alone domestication, significantly more difficult. Genetically and structurally, zebras have several significant differences from horses which prevent them from being domesticated.

For one, while horses are social monogamous animals, with one male and one female bonding, Zebras partake in polygamy. As a consequence, it is much harder to control the social order and behaviour of the animal, which makes them difficult to work with. Additionally, zebras have much thicker skin than horses – around 1.5 cm thick in comparison to a horse’s 1cm thick – which makes them tougher to ride.

Additionally, Zebras have a much stronger flight instinct, which makes it near impossible for them to live in confinement. They are much more skittish than horses and in general, react more quickly and sharply to danger or threats from humans. A zebra’s first reaction to danger is running, which makes them much more difficult to work in captivity.

Beliefs that the Species is on the Verge of Extinction Prevent Domestication

Another theory for why zebras remain undomesticated is one of conservation. Many scientists and experts claim that it’s better for the species that they remain wild and undomesticated to prevent them from becoming extinct. For example, Peter Donickson, the former director of the Kenya Wildlife Service and author of ‘The Zebra Conspiracy’, noted that the species has a natural fear or instinct that prevents them from being domesticated. He claims, “Zebras have an inherent resistance to us and to captivity […] This has saved their species; it has made them invulnerable to domesticity, an act, which almost invariably leads to the extinction of all wild species”.

Conclusion

The reasons why zebras were never domesticated are still steeped in mystery and remain open to debate. From structural and genetic differences to the species’ natural resistance, there are several theories on why the species remains undomesticated. Nevertheless, for conservationists, it is precisely these characteristics that make the zebra one of nature’s great survivors and ultimately, why the species continues to thrive in the wild.

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