The horse was domesticated 6000 years ago. Throughout history, it has always been the main means of transportation: it allows you to travel long distances long before cars and trains! In addition to horses, humans also tame donkeys. But their close relative zebra still lives in nature.
Why has humans been unable to domesticate zebras despite the evolutionary blood relationship of animals?
Striped relatives
The speculative evolutionary path of zebras and horses diverged 2.8 million years ago. This striped animal only lives in Africa, and currently there are only three species: plain zebra , mountain zebra and grizzly zebra .
This animal differs from other horses not only in color, but also in its anatomy: elongated front legs, muzzle and neck, short stature and bone structure.
The general view in science is that the color of zebra is a kind of camouflage of blood-sucking flies _span10strong span1 _span strong span1 _strong. According to experience, it is found that horsefly and tsetse fly are guided by the reflection of light patterns when looking for food,Response to uniform color is larger.
By the way, zebras are the only equine animal that is immune to insect-borne infections. Trypanosomiasis, infectious anemia, equine flu and other diseases make it impossible to raise donkeys and horses in most parts of East Africa. But zebras in the same area feel very comfortable.
Why has no one domesticated zebras?
People have tried to domesticate zebras since ancient times. The food is unpretentious, and strong creatures seem very attractive as livestock.
During the colonial era, both Africans and Europeans tried to adapt zebras to this situation. Unfortunately, all riders ended up with injuries.
The fact is that zebras do not meet the two main criteria necessary for domestication : They are not social animals that recognize the authority of the leader, and they are too shy.
Contrary to popular belief, zebras rarely come in groups. Like a group of lions, creatures live in a family consisting of an adult male, several wives, and immature offspring.
In addition, zebras are evolutionarily more suitable to resist predators. These are very aggressive animals, not only able to protect themselves, but also able to use their hooves and teeth to attack. For people in the ancient world, more malleable horses were easier to domesticate.
However,When one possesses something other than stone axe and bow, it is possible to tame zebras. A similar example is the British zoologist Walter Rothschild (Walter Rothschild), who managed to tie four zebras to a carriage in the 19th century.
Zebra is more flattering than zebra-a hybrid of zebra and donkey or horse. Staying violent, zebras are better at contacting people, but they are sterile.
Zebras are still running on the African savannah and living in the wild. However, due to poaching and hunting, their habitat is shrinking and their numbers are also declining. Maybe one day this species will become extinct and it remains untamed.
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