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Zebras at The Brayer Patch
The Brayer Patch is home to rescued zebras as well as donkeys and zebra hybrids. Zebras are raised in this country as pets, for zoos, circuses and exotic hunts. While we are in favor of breeding programs for endangered zebra species, there really is no good reason for breeding them in captivity other than for major zoos. Zebras are often kept by private people and petting zoos when they are young, but then they must find alternative homes for them when they become adults and are no longer suitable for petting or as pets.
Zebras make lousy pets. They kick and bite, and when they bite, they do not let go. More zookeepers are seriously injured by zebras than by any other animal. Zebra stallions, often kept for breeding zebra hybrids have been known to turn on their owners, despite being quite tractable as youngsters. They are not small stripped horses. They are truly wild animals who do not belong in captivity, other than in top zoological facilities. We do not raise zebras or zebra hybrids. We do not, as a rule, adopt out zebras or zebra hybrids. We do not recommend either as pets or riding animals. Despite thousands of years of attempting to domesticate them, zebras remain truly wild, even when raised in captivity.
