The maneless zebra (Equus quagga borensis) is a subspecies of the plains zebra spread over the northern parts of eastern Africa. It ranges in northwestern Kenya (from Uasin Gishu and Lake Baringo) to the Karamoja district of Uganda. It is also found in eastern South Sudan, east of the White Nile (for example, in Boma National Park). It is the northernmost subspecies of the plains zebra. The last remaining substantial population is in Kidepo Valley National Park.
The maneless zebra was first described in 1921 by the Swedish zoologist Einar Lönnberg.[2] He gave it the name Equus borensis based on a type specimen collected near the town of Bor in South Sudan. Later the maneless zebras have been described by several others. Also in 1954 by Tony Henley, then a ranger in the game department of the Protectorate of Uganda based in Moroto and in charge of Karamoja District.[3] Recently, the animals in the Kidepo Valley National Park have been studied by the Kidepo Wildlife Foundation.
In a research study conducted by J. Pluháček, L. Bartoš and J. Vichová, it was found that out of four plain zebra subspecies, the maneless zebra was the only subspecies that male infanticides were not found.
Due to very little interest in keeping of Maneless zebras from side of EAZA and european zoos, Czech and Slovak zoos have agreed to run their own managed breeding program some time ago. Local zoos are phasing out other zebra subspecies to dedicate more available space for Maneless zebras. In whole Europe less than 40 of these zebras survive. That is too low to keep them long-term so this is a last attempt to build a sustainable captive population.
Wild Maneless zebras survive only in Uganda, with estimated population of 100-400 spread over several parks.