A zebra’s died after suffering a fatal injury running into an enclosure fence during firework displays put on nearby, a zoo today announced.
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm confirmed the death of seven-month-old Hope, who is believed to have died when she was spooked by fireworks on Wednesday 4 November.
The North Somerset attraction claims the ‘loud bangs’ caused the animal to bolt. She’s said to have collided with the boundary of the enclosure soon after. The post-mortem has revealed that this sudden impact caused her immediate death.
Zoo director Larry Bush commented: “We’re feeling devastated by the loss of our young zebra Hope. She was so full of energy and life and she was a very healthy young zebra. It is such a tragedy that she has lost her life, seemingly as a result of fireworks being set off at nearby events which were intended as a celebration.
“We know this was not the intention of local organisers and people letting off fireworks but it does demonstrate in a tragic way the impact that fireworks can have on animals – whether this be zebras, horses, native wildlife or pets in our homes.”
