Burchells zebra hunting in South Africa

Burchell’s Zebra, sometimes referred to as Plains Zebra, are the most common of the Zebra species in South Africa easily identifiable by the shadow stripe patterns on their skins. It is found on all the hunting territories across South Africa except the few mountainous properties that accommodate the endemic Cape Mountain Zebra and Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra introduced from Namibia. Sometimes referred to by some as a “Disco Donkey” or “Pyjama Donkey”, this animal truly epitomises and is synonymous with Africa. A few hunters shy from it, however, due to their close resemblance to the horse. In fact, an attempt was made to train Zebras to pull ox wagons in the early pioneering days of Southern Africa, as they were not affected by the stock diseases that killed both cattle and horses. Although fast off the mark, they had no stamina so the idea was canned. Each individual Zebra has an identifiable (fingerprint) like pattern. Being long grass (bulk) grazers, found in the savanna grasslands and hence also referred to as Plains Zebra. Besides being an extremely alert animal warning other antelope of impending danger from predators, their feeding habits provide for a symbiotic grazing relationship with other antelope species.