# Why wasn't the zebra domesticated? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 30, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170 "2013-11-30T23:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/21 "2013-12-01T16:26:31Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > My nephews wife came from a ranch where they raise zebras on the cental coast n Ca. They get along well with the other live stock and they do cross them I believe. I will inquire as to wether or not they are breeding for a tameness. If they can breed tame foxes just by selecting the fraction of each generation that is relatively tolerant of humans, you’d think the same principle could be applied to zebras. You’d have to be willing to keep them for generations without much payback in the short term however. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/22 "2013-12-01T16:28:23Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Did you read the link? The proposal was that zebras were less domesticatable because they evolved alongside humans: I thought you were skeptical of the claim that they were less domesticatable in general- not about specific reasons that they were so. Whatever the reason was, it seems pretty clear that zebras are/were significantly tougher to domesticate than horses. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/23 "2013-12-01T16:29:27Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Besides, we don’t have evidence that humans domesticated horses on purpose. More likely the domestication happened over a long period of time and through a process that both species found mutually beneficial, but which neither consciously chose. Something similar is thought to have happened with reindeer; human hunters eventually formed a sort of symbiosis with the reindeer herds. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/24 "2013-12-01T17:02:51Z")
**freedom!!!** ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/25 "2013-12-01T17:33:27Z")
I absolutely love Guns, Germs, and Steel and I think about 98% of it is dead on. But I never bought the zebra argument which seems to be 'they weren’t domesticated therefore they couldn’t have been domesticated." ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/26 "2013-12-01T17:36:18Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I thought you were skeptical of the claim that they were less domesticatable in general- not about specific reasons that they were so. I’m skeptical of both. But you quoted the post I made specifically to the link to _GG&S._ > [@](#): > > Whatever the reason was, it seems pretty clear that zebras are/were significantly tougher to domesticate than horses. I’m not doubting that. I just think the idea that they cannot be domesticated isn’t very convincing. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/27 "2013-12-01T17:54:21Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > **freedom!!!** (golf clap) ---
**Author:** ![Crawlspace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Crawlspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crawlspace)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/28 "2013-12-01T17:58:18Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > A man and his pet zebra walk into a bar. It’s about 5pm, but they’re ready for a good night of drinking. They start off slowly, watching TV, drinking beer, eating peanuts. As the night goes on they move to mixed drinks, and then shooters, one after the other. Finally, the bartender says: “Last call.” So the man says, “One more for me … and one more for my zebra.” The bartender sets them up and they shoot them back. Suddenly, the zebra falls over dead. The man throws some money on the bar, puts on his coat and starts to leave. The bartender, yells: “Hey buddy, you can’t just leave that lyin’ there.” To which the man replies: “That’s not a lion, that’s a zebra.” That was a long walk. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/29 "2013-12-01T20:37:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I’m not doubting that. I just think the idea that they cannot be domesticated isn’t very convincing. Is anyone saying that? I think it would be pretty reasonable to assume that if it was economical to domesticate the zebra (or any other large African mammal), then Africans would have done so; and that they didn’t is a solid indication that, at least in ancient history before other domesticated animals were introduced from Europe and Asia, it was not worth the effort for them to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/30 "2013-12-01T20:55:46Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > The Asian wild ass _(Equus hemionus)_ was never domesticated either. Odd, considering how many people have journeyed far away from home for the sole purpose of enjoying wild Asian ass. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/31 "2013-12-01T21:22:59Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Is anyone saying that? Post 2 and 4 don’t explicitly say that, but that’s certainly how they can be read. > [@](#): > > I think it would be pretty reasonable to assume that if it was economical to domesticate the zebra (or any other large African mammal), then Africans would have done so; and that they didn’t is a solid indication that, at least in ancient history before other domesticated animals were introduced from Europe and Asia, it was not worth the effort for them to do so. You seem to saying, or strongly implying, that domestication was a conscious effort. I doubt that any of the domestication done by Neolithic or late Paleolithic peoples was done so on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/32 "2013-12-01T21:37:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You seem to saying, or strongly implying, that domestication was a conscious effort. I doubt that any of the domestication done by Neolithic or late Paleolithic peoples was done so on purpose. Right. Looking back at the past few posts, I think we’re agreed and I just didn’t quite understand what you were saying. It wasn’t conscious, as in “let’s go make those animals do our bidding”, but a series of little decisions like “let’s live near the goats- easier to hunt that way”… “let’s take care of those baby goats whose mother we killed”… “wow, that milk is actually tasty! Good one, Mog.”… “My goat died! I’m gonna go capture another one.”… “this goat kicked me- I’m going to kill it… the nice goat gets to stay alive and have babies…” etc. If those little decisions had made sense, economically speaking, I’m sure that ancient Africans would have made those little decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/33 "2013-12-01T22:39:53Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > You seem to saying, or strongly implying, that domestication was a conscious effort. I doubt that any of the domestication done by Neolithic or late Paleolithic peoples was done so on purpose. The ancient Egyptians seem to have made a definite and deliberate effort to domesticate local species, including the cheetah which they used as a hunting companion (which taming, by the way, did not succeed). They weren’t that far past the neolithic. While the first species domesticated may have been done accidentally I wouldn’t rule out deliberate attempts for some of the most recent species domesticated. Once a group of humans had dogs, maybe some sheep, and some domesticated grains and vegetables the concept would have been pretty solid. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/34 "2013-12-01T22:42:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Lionel Walter Rothschild (1868-1937), 2nd Baron Rothschild, with his famed zebra carriage, which he frequently drove through London. Zebras have been successfully tamed only rarely. > **[Why Can't All Animals Be Domesticated?](https://www.livescience.com/33870-domesticated-animals-criteria.html)** > > There are six criteria that animals must meet in order to be harnessed by humans. Only a few species make the cut. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/35 "2013-12-01T22:54:09Z")
You can tame the black ones with white stripes, but heaven help you if you try to tame the white ones with black stripes. ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2013, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/36 "2013-12-01T23:22:15Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > **freedom!!!** I like to move it - move it! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/37 "2013-12-02T03:01:52Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > **freedom!!!** Are you at least housebroken? ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/38 "2013-12-02T04:04:59Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Something similar is thought to have happened with reindeer; human hunters eventually formed a sort of symbiosis with the reindeer herds. [They both liked long walks on the beach … and watching the TV together.](http://img.yle.fi/uutiset/lappi/article6958764.ece/ALTERNATES/w580/Aatu+poro+281113.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/39 "2013-12-02T07:22:27Z")
> [@the\_diego](#): > > I like to move it - move it! (sigh) It’s a Braveheart refrence! :rolleyes: \*\* YOU CAN’T TAME THE Z!\*\* ---
**Author:** ![the\_diego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@the\_diego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/the_diego)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2013, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170/40 "2013-12-02T09:37:22Z")
I know about Braveheart. But I prefer Chris Rock and company. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-wasnt-the-zebra-domesticated/675170.md?page=3)