Historical evidence of zebras as pets is scarce. There are images of Baron Walter Rothschild Zebras pulling his wagon through 19th century London, and Dr Rosendo Ribeiro visiting patients on a zebra in 1903. But these are exceptions, not the norm. The company`s evolution towards exoticism is not as new as you might think. Myfitnesspal and other calorie-counting apps already list zebra meat in their grocery stores, and Raging Bull Meats on Finchley Road recently reopened as a South African butcher selling meat from a safari – fresh and dried. Meat « sweeter than beef » with a « subtle wild taste » is cut in the hindquarter of the Burchell zebra breed in South Africa – the only breed that can be legally bred for meat. There are many recipes on the internet for consumption such as zebra steaks and burgers. Steaks are usually cut from the zebra`s rump. Other edible parts are loin, ribs, stems, fillets, etc. depending on the cut. People eat zebra meat, but it`s not recommended and you`d better stick to the usual options. It`s worth hundreds of dollars a pound, but the delicious recipes make up for the hefty purchase price. Only the Burchell breed can be consumed, not the other two.

Thus, it can surprise a person if their meat is edible or legal to consume. Zebras do not live in harmony with other animals and therefore are not bred on farms for meat consumption. Of course, that`s part of the appeal — zebras are exotic and wild, and the stripes stand out in a Disney way. Is that enough to own one? Animal rights activists say no. « There`s no need to track animals that are rare as pets, » says Kate Dylewsky of Born Free USA. The organization refuses to keep a wild animal as a pet. Still, one wonders, if they are served with a plate of exotic zebra meat, should they eat it? Is it harmful? Is it legal to eat zebra meat? And most importantly, where can you find it? Most meat lovers are known to explore different alternatives, from eating donkeys, dogs, to other exotic meat options. If you have any concerns about eating zebra meat, all the important information is available to you. This delicacy is not easy to find. You can`t just go to the meat market and buy zebra meat for steaks or burgers because humans are not zebra predators.

Thus, it is possible that a person has to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for a pound of meat. Some sellers sell it illegally, so they add an extra amount to the actual price. Have you ever wondered if people eat zebras? This is not a common practice, and many people have not been seen feasting on the striped animal. It`s a hot, dry day in Kerrville, Texas, and more than a hundred people have gathered in a small circular barn. The crowd consists mainly of men, brown and skated by outdoor work, but three little girls sit on a bench in front. The youngest, who is wearing a frozen T-shirt with Elsa`s face, leans forward with wide eyes and announces to her friends: « I really want a zebra! » He dismissed fears that the initiative would lead to illegal hunting of animals. While a zebra may seem like an exotic substitute for a horse, most cannot be ridden, unlike Panettiere`s creature. At least not easy.

« You can train a horse in 30 days, but it took three years to train Rarity, » says Timianne Sebright, 28, referring to the pet zebra she rides regularly. Sebright helps manage the Rarity Acres horse ranch in Michigan, and for her, owning zebras is a childhood dream come true. Her father wouldn`t buy them from her because they were too expensive, so she raised money for Rarity by working in local stables. Last year, supermarket chain Lidl divided shoppers by launching kangaroo steaks as part of its luxury range, while London`s Archipelago restaurant offers an eclectic selection of unusual specialities. From crispy « jerky » zebra and boerewors to sweet smoked python carpaccio and crocodile chili in the grape leaves, the menu offers a dream for any discerning carnivore. « I got a lot of calls, » Nunke said. « It was an opportunity to educate them on what it means to own a zebra. We need buyers who realize that they have different needs than horses.

And while the thought of owning zebras makes you smile like the little girl in the frozen t-shirt, it`s not an easy trot. Zebra owners regularly face anti-exotic laws, such as a January 2014 bill in West Virginia that seeks to ban the possession of exotic animals. Then there are the zebras themselves: as beautiful as they are, as knights as they seem, they are not domesticated like horses. And their kick can kill a lion. It`s not illegal to sell meat that doesn`t come from the UK, as long as it meets certain Food Standard Agency (FSA) standards – so don`t worry, London Zoo won`t become a breeding ground and subsequent slaughterhouse for alien species. All meat must comply with the required labelling standards, die in an approved slaughterhouse and pass health checks. You don`t see people who often eat zebra meat because it is not readily available and few farmers consider this wild and aggressive animal for consumption. In many cities, you won`t find a vendor selling zebra meat.

However, many online marketplaces for exotic meat offer zebra meat, order it for delivery. Then there are the zebra horror stories. Purple Tatar was 18 when she got her zebra, and she was fighting. She posted on Instagram: « Tbt the day I got this little bugger and I was actually nice #stripes #pet zebra #evilzebra. » Evil Zebra was sold in 2012. For fitness – maybe. For steak and fries – that`s doubtful. Regardless of the health benefits of meat, its robust texture means you`ll have to chew your way to fitness to digest it due to its low fat content. It is best to cut it into thin strips and fry it over high heat for a very short time or perhaps in a casserole for a delicious zebra stew. But if you want to treat yourself to a steak, it`s best to buy a beef steak. Of course, they are cute. And owning them is legal in more places than you think. This does not mean that buying a zebra is a good idea.

Ozy.com Hide the legend But now it`s the call to meat. Not just any meat. Standard lamb chops and pork sausages are simply no longer enough. A new trend could turn us to a juicy slice of zebra steak or maybe even crispy springbok, bison or chermoula crickets. Beale said: « Our customers are adventurous when it comes to trying new things, so we decided to introduce the ultimate low-fat, high-protein meat – zebra. » The only edible zebra meat comes from the hindquarters, the rest is wasted. As a delicacy or exotic meat, it becomes expensive. Even well-treated animals can be difficult to rob, zebra owners say. Shea Inman, twenty, broke her first horse at the age of 14, but Joey, the zebra she bought from a Texas ranch, put her self-confidence in herself. « I thought it would be child`s play, » she says sadly. Speaking of training setup: months of Inman gaining Joey`s trust with carrots, slowly driving him across the field, and then the glorious moment of saddling him, stepping over him and rolling down the road, blonde hair running behind her.

Some people like to eat zebra meat out of curiosity about its taste.