Quagga (SciiFii)

The quagga (/ˈkwɑːxɑː/ or /ˈkwæɡə/) (Equus quagga quagga) is a subspecies of plains zebra that is native to South Africa and was once extinct since the late 19th century, but has since been brought back from extinction by SciiFii and reintroduced to South Africa to help boost biodiversity. It was long thought to be a distinct species, but genetic studies supports it being a subspecies of plains zebra. A more recent study suggested that it is merely the southernmost cline or ecotype of the species. The name is derived from its call, which sounds like "kwa-ha-ha". The quagga is around 257 centimeters (8 ft 5 inches) long and 125–135 centimeters (4 ft 1 inches–4 ft 5 inches) tall at the shoulder. It is distinguished from other zebras by its limited pattern of primarily brown and white stripes, mainly on the front part of the body. The rear is brown and without stripes, and therefore more horse-like. The distribution of stripes varies considerably between individuals. The quagga gathers into herds of 30–50. Quaggas are often said to be wild and lively, yet are also considered more docile than Burchell's zebra. The conservation status of the quagga is Vulnerable due to some habitat loss and historic poaching, however, thanks to the conservationists, the quagga is a protected species and is making a comeback.