Cape Mountain Zebra

[Erny]

Got a question for all you Zebra experts out there. I am going on a hunting on the Eastern Cape with @Leopards Valley Safaris this July. They have three (sub)species of Zebra to hunt. They have Hartman’s, Burchells and Cape Mountain. The only one I have not hunted is the Cape Mountain Zebra. The trophy fee for the Cape Mountain Zebra is substantially higher than the Burchells. The other Burchells and Hartman’s zebras I have killed were made into flat skin rugs. This time I am wanting a shoulder mounted Zebra for the wall. My questions are what makes the Cape Mountain Zebra unique from the other two species? Has anybody killed one that has gotten a shoulder mount of the Cape Mountain Zebra?

 

[Mike B.]

If you are trying to import it back into the US I am not sure that is possible. Hopefully someone a lot smarter than me can get that set straight but it's my understanding that this sub species is listed as an appendix I cites species and therefore not importable.

 

[Erny]

Thanks Mike for pointing that out. I did not even think of that!!!!!!

 

[wesheltonj]

CITES as appendix 1:

https://cites.org/eng/gallery/species/mammal/cape_mountain_zebra.html

USFWS as endangered:

https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/profile/speciesProfile?sId=6368

 

[BRICKBURN]

The Cape Mountain Zebra was "DOWNLISTED" to CITES Appendix II at COP 17. 2016.

https://www.africahunting.com/threa...-downlisted-at-cites-cop17.34951/#post-327876

Now, that does not mean anything to the USFWS necessarily. Check with them and see if they are still tooting their own horn on the subject.

 

[Erny]

Well that was easy. No Cape Mountain Zebra for me. Appreciate the info.

 

[daved]

Hi Tom
Just for clarity for all the other readers .The Cape Mountain Zebra can be hunted legally here in Eastern Cape but USFW has not opened up the import of these yet even though CITES has uplifted them from appendix 1 to appendix 2.

I did not realize you where interested in these as I would have told you that they are not importable at this stage.
Looking forward to having you at the campfire
Cheers

 

[Erny]

Thanks Dave. Kinda stinks I can't bring one back to the US.

 

[JGRaider]

How about a pic of one. Never seen one, or heard of one for that matter.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra zebra) is a subspecies of the Mountain Zebra found in the Western and Eastern Cape in South Africa. It has been argued that it should be considered a separate species than the Hartmann's Mountain Zebra, but this is not supported by genetic evidence.

 

[sheephunterab]

Cape mountain zebra are expensive because hunting opportunity is so limited. We saw several last year in the Stromburg Mountains while hunting Barbary sheep. There are unique looking for sure.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thanks Dave. Kinda stinks I can't bring one back to the US.

Go hug the USFWS.

 

[JGRaider]

Cape mountain zebra are expensive because hunting opportunity is so limited. We saw several last year in the Stromburg Mountains while hunting Barbary sheep. There are unique looking for sure.

How is it different than a Hartman's in Namibia? They look the same to me.

 

[sheephunterab]

They are shorter and stockier. The ears are rounder but quite large. The dewlap is bigger. The most obvious difference is that the stripes are narrower and more numerous. They didn't have the really brown muzzle. To us they looked very different. I suspect geographic evolution played a role in the difference between the two, despite them being for all intents and purposes the same species.

 

[JGRaider]

Guess I'll have to take your word for it. Interesting there's no genetic evidence to suggest a difference, but what do I know. I didn't even know they existed before this thread.

 

[sheephunterab]

It's not uncommon for identical species to have significantly different physical traits based on geography. The Hartman's evolved in the warm, dry desert while the Cape Mountain evolved in the high, cold elevations. Snow and below zero temperatures are not all that uncommon where we saw them on the Eastern Cape. Add to that a different suite of predators and it's not surprising there are differences.

 

[JGRaider]

You'd think since the Hartman's is from a warmer Namibian climate, it would be smaller than the Cape version from the colder climate wouldn't you?

 

[sheephunterab]

In many species that is the case but definitely not all. A lot has to do with available forage types. Caribou are a classic example of the more harsh the climate the smaller the body size.

 

[CAustin]

That picture is a good looking animal.

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

They are shorter and stockier. The ears are rounder but quite large. The dewlap is bigger. The most obvious difference is that the stripes are narrower and more numerous. They didn't have the really brown muzzle. To us they looked very different. I suspect geographic evolution played a role in the difference between the two, despite them being for all intents and purposes the same species.

Thank you for pointing out the difference @sheephunterab. I have not seen any Cape Mountain Zebra in person but having observe lots of Hartmann's Mountain Zebra can certainly see the differences that you are talking about when looking at images of the Cape Mountain Zebra.