JULY 2001

Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve is the proud owner of one of the largest privately owned herds of Cape Mountain Zebra in the world. Currently there are approximately 22 animals at Bushmans Kloof, including the breeding herds and a bachelor group. Eight foals were born in the spring of 2001, with seven births recorded in 2000, 2 in 1999 and 3 new arrivals the previous year (1998).  

Bushmans Kloof has become a haven for this rare and endangered species. Since the first animals were established in the reserve seven years ago, the Cape Mountain Zebra have prospered in the custody of Bushmans Kloof, to such an extend that nine animals could be captured this winter and sold to other breeders in the country.

Current recorded numbers of the Cape Mountain Zebra totals approximately one thousand two hundred animals worldwide. In genetic terms this still represents a small population, but is a vast improvement of the just over 400 recorded in 1984.

The conservation status of the Cape Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra zebra) was even worse than that of the Bontebok, when in 1950 the estimated total number of Cape Mountain Zebra dropped as low as 91. It is considered the largest mammal in South Africa to have come so close to extinction, a fate that sadly, awaited the Quagga.

The Cape Mountain Zebra has however become a conservation success story. But according to Peter Lloyd of the Scientific Services section of Cape Nature Conservation, the species is not completely out of the woods yet. “There are currently about sixteen formally conserved populations (i.e. in state conservation departments) of Cape Mountain Zebra left - too small a number to guarantee survival of the species. Conservation efforts by the private sector, like those of Bill and Mark McAdam at Bushmans Kloof, are therefore essential towards assisting Nature Conservation with this major challenge.”

Historically, Cape Mountain Zebra occurred throughout the Cape Fold Belt mountains and the edge of the Great Escarpment of the Cape Province, its fast-growing hooves an adaptation to the type of rocky terrain inhabited. Although Cape Mountain Zebra probably were never very numerous, numbers started dwindling as herds had to compete with sheep and cattle for grazing. Farmers began developing more land, establishing wheat production and other crops in areas which traditionally were home to Cape Mountain Zebra and the extinct Quagga.  

Hunting was uncontrolled, and the Cape Mountain Zebra, with the Quagga, were popular victims, its hide allegedly much sought after amongst others, for the manufacturing of  “grain bags”. Within thirty years, from the twenties to the fifties, the population of more than 400 animals had dropped to the all-time low, estimated to be 91 animals, when conservation efforts started showing a positive effect.

The Cape Mountain Zebra exists in strong family groups. A breeding herd usually consisting of a stallion with anything from one to five mares, and their foals. Very strong family bonds and long term “relationships” exist within these herds, with a stallion staying with the same mares for periods as long as twenty years - unusual behaviour amongst our wild grazing animals. If a herd stallion is displaced, the herd is generally taken over as a unit by a new stallion. But, the stallion may need to go through a courtship of up to three years, before the mares in the herd will accept their new stud. Breeding is further delayed by a gestation period of a full year, which together with the animal’s social and mating behaviour, result in numbers growing very slowly.  

Natural populations survived in three conservation areas: the Mountain Zebra National Park at Cradock, and the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve and Kamanassie Nature Reserve in the Oudtshoorn district. Herds were subsequently established in a number of other locations, including the privately owned Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve.

For further information on the Cape Mountain Zebra, please call Peter Lloyd at Cape Nature Conservation at tel (021) 866 8015.