 Quaggas were said to be lively and highly strung , especially the stallions . During the 1830s , quaggas were used as harness animals for carriages in London , the males probably being gelded to mitigate their volatile nature . Local farmers used them as guards for their livestock , as they were likely to attack intruders . On the other hand , captive quaggas in European zoos were said to be tamer and more docile than Burchell 's zebra . One specimen was reported to have lived in captivity for 21 years and 4 months , dying in 1872 . 
