I’m a little confused by this. Basically someone in Edmonton had what they believed to be a Zorse (zebra/horse hybrid). When it fathered a foal, they had it’s DNA tested and were told it had Quagga DNA markers. Quaggas have been extinct for 100 years. I’m not sure if they are implying that it actually is a Quagga, or if it is some type of Quagga hybrid. The pictures of the animal do not look like a Quagga to me.

And of course the beast is missing now.

An article in the Edmonton Journal, December 13, 2006, concerns an alleged quagga, a South Africa species with genetic links to zebras said to be extinct for over 100 years.

This specific equine has been missing for over two weeks from a farm located at Carrot Creek, a little way west of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The animal seems rather unique:

The eight-year-old stallion, named Zebastian, is a brown zebra with black stripes, and its owner fears the animal’s unique looks will tempt area hunters who don’t know how special it is.

Plus…

[Patricia] O’Neil bought Zebastian seven years ago at an auction near Innisfail, thinking he was a hybrid horse.

When Zebastian fathered a foal, O’Neil said she sent his DNA for testing at the University of Phoenix. She said Zebastian has the DNA markers of a quagga zebra, a species that has been extinct for more than 100 years.

“I am sure the zoo industry and zoologists will be very interested in that finding,” Valley Zoo operations supervisor Dean Treichel said.

Treichel has been working with the zoo for 28 years and says the only Alberta zebras he is aware of live in the province’s two zoos. He is skeptical.

...So if a Zebra & a Quagga *are* indeed related…then wouldn’t it make sense that a DNA test would reveal Quagga DNA?  That’s sort of like the DNA results, where the man assumed he was indeed of AFRICAN heritage, and turned out to have NONE in him at all..or maybe it wasn’t none, but 2% or something tiny.  I don’t remember if that’s on MOH or not.

I’m sure there aren’t many DNA tests performed on Zebras…I wonder if you did a DNA test on just a regular Zebra, if they’d have some Quagga DNA??

By sheer coincidence, I just happened to drive through Carrot Creek, Alberta today. Didn’t see the Quagga though. But if it looks anything like a zebra, it may have blended in with the snow and trees. I’m going back through there in a few days so I’ll have another look. Stay tuned for updates.

Yes, I wondered the same thing Meagan.

I also assumed they they mean that it’s part quagga, not an actual quagga since the animal clearly does not look like one, and from what I understand, they had pretty specific markings that did not vary.

Al -  keep that camera ready!

Unfortunately it was dark by the time I got to Carrot Creek yesterday so I wouldn’t have seen a quagga unless it walked out in front of me. Good thing, since I wouldn’t want to be remembered as the person who ran over and killed the only living quagga on earth. Also, I didn’t have my camera so no one would believe me anyway.

If you did hit it I would hope that you at least consider eating it… I bet it would be delicious…
and quite the delicacy

How, exactly, would you prepare Quagga?

Tah - 28 December 2006 09:41 PM

How, exactly, would you prepare Quagga?

I’m not sure. It’s not on the Roadkill Cafe menu. May I suggest Quagga Oats? Any other ideas?

With quagga sauce, obviously.  And a red wine.

You stuff it with minced DoDo meat, and garnish it with Great Auk eggs…

You would prepare it like you would any horse. On Iceland they have lots of nice horsebased recipes that would probably be quagga compatible.

I drove through Carrot Creek, Alberta again yesterday in broad daylight. (It takes about 15 seconds at highway speed.) Still no sign of the the quagga. Maybe next time I should stop in at the general store and ask about it.