Hearst Castle
Hearst Castle is found in San Simeon, California and is a popular tourist spot. It has amazing architecture and . . . Let’s just get to the zebras.
William Randolph Hearst was a rich eccentric who loved nature and wanted to create habitats on his land for animals not found in California. This would be a place where people could walk or drive through to see animals such as deer, giraffe, and many more species. The dangerous animals were in cages. In 1937, money became an issue and this ‘zoo’ shut down. Many of the animals were sent to other zoos or private collectors, but the land was eventually donated to California in 1958. There were still animals living on the property too.
Among these animals were a bunch of zebra that made an area near Highway 1 their new home. They coexist with a heard of cattle, so they can be seen on occasion. Being on private property, you can’t get close and that’s a good thing. These are still wild animals and possess the zebra’s natural territoriality. So, a human will get kicked and bitten if they get too close. There’s a reason you don’t really see zebra in petting zoos since they don’t have a pleasant demeanor. As of 2022, there are 151 wild zebra descended from the origin herd.
It’s an interesting story since they have clearly adapted and flourished. I didn’t find many people calling them an invasive species either because they stay in a small area and don’t destroy things. I guess that’s a key point towards invasive species. If they aren’t destructive, we don’t seem to mind them. That being said, it has to be a shock for someone driving along in California and seeing a zebra without knowing they will be there. Talk about a wrong turn at Albuquerque.
Legends of Windemere 
We’ve visited Hearst Castle several times but never seen those zebras, Charles. I never knew they were there!
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It sounds like they’re in a very small area, which might not be close to the castle. I’m surprised they’re still around though.
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It is amazing that they survived since it appears they were just left to mkae thier own way. Thanks, Charles.
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You’re welcome. Guess the environment was close enough to home that they adapted.
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Looks that way.
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This is amazing and I’d never heard this before.
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Same. Stumbled onto an instagram video about them.
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I never knew there were zebras on the property. You make a good point about invasive.
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The plus side is that they haven’t disrupted the environment. Doubt they can go into captivity or to Africa though.
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Win-win.
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Amazing. So good they are flourishing and not taking over the natural wildlife of the country.
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True. I’m wondering if it’s because they started with so few. They can’t do population boom.
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Me. too. What a surprise! I love visiting Hearst Castle. Got some books and read all about it.
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My family visited Hearst Castle when I was younger, but I never realized there had been a menagerie on site.
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It sounds like it isn’t highly publicized.
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I have wondered why zebras were never domesticated like other equine species. Another blogger responded with a picture of zebras pulling a cart! But it sounds as if zebras have never been amenable to being tamed, let alone ridden.
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Yeah. They’re too wild. There are times where individual zebra have been domesticated, but overall the species doesn’t like it.
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