Can zebras be domesticated?

By Jeremy Shere

Posted August 16, 2024

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Transcript

D: [WHISTLING]

Y: You sure sound happy today, Don.

D: That's because I've come up with a scheme that's going to make me filthy rich.

Y: So let's hear it.

D: Zebras!

Y: Zebras?

D: Yes, Zebras! Think about it. There are all these zebras on the African plains, just running around and wasting their time. People like to ride horses, right? So why not Zebras?

Y: You're going to domesticate zebras.

D: You got it. And since we're buddies, I'll even let you in on the deal. For a small investment, of course.

Y: Thanks Don, but no thanks. After all, domesticating zebras is nothing new.

D: It's not?

Y: No. In fact, people have been trying to domesticate zebras for about a hundred years.

D: So the zebra market has already been cornered.

Y: Not exactly. There is no zebra market, because zebras can't be domesticated.

D: Why not? Aren't they pretty much horses with stripes?

Y: No. Compared to horses, zebras are pretty unpredictable. They can be very aggressive and even vicious as they get older. Plus, their body shape doesn't take a saddle very well. Trying to train and ride a zebra is pretty dangerous.

D: So it's impossible?

Y: Not impossible. Over the years some zebras have been successfully trained, but as a group they just don't lend themselves to domestication. Some animal trainers and breeders have created zebra hybrids, such as the "zorse," a cross between a zebra and a horse, and the "zonkey", which is what you get when you cross a zebra and a donkey.

D: That sounds slightly creepy.

Y: Yeah. So far there's no specific purpose to creating zebra hybrids; they're not stronger or more useful than regular horses and donkeys.

D: So maybe we should just leave the zebras alone.

Y: They'd probably appreciate it.

A zebra turned towards the camera in a grassy area

People have been trying to domesticate zebras for about a hundred years. (Jon Mountjoy / flickr)

Here's a business proposition to consider. Humans ride horses all the time and have a great relationship with that animal. There are zebras all over the African plains, so why not zebras?

Domesticating zebras isn't a new idea. In fact, people have been trying to do it for about a hundred years.

But don't think that the zebra market has been cornered. There is no zebra market, because they can't be domesticated.

Compared to horses, zebras are pretty unpredictable. They can be very aggressive and even vicious as they get older. Plus, their body shape doesn't take a saddle very well. Trying to train and ride a zebra is pretty dangerous.

So it's difficult, but not impossible. Over the years some zebras have been successfully trained, but as a group they just don't lend themselves to domestication. Some animal trainers and breeders have created zebra hybrids, such as the "zorse," a cross between a zebra and a horse, and the "zonkey", which is what you get when you cross a zebra and a donkey.

So far there's no specific purpose to creating zebra hybrids; they're not stronger or more useful than regular horses and donkeys.

So maybe we should just leave the zebras alone. They'd probably appreciate it.

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