News / Animals
Fireworks believed to cause death of young zebra
Fireworks are believed to be the cause of the tragic death of an eight-month-old zebra at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm.
Hope died on Wednesday, November 4 after colliding with the boundary of her enclosure at the zoo in Wraxall.
She was born at the start of the first lockdown in March and was named by keepers to symbolise a ray of light at a time which felt so bleak.
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It is believed that Hope became spooked by the bangs of fireworks from several displays held locally on the evening that she died.
Zoo staff think that the fright caused her to bolt and she collided with the enclosure boundary. A post-mortem has revealed that this sudden impact caused her immediate death.
“We’re feeling devastated by the loss of our young zebra Hope,” said Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm managing director, Larry Bush.
“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.”
By sharing the story of Hope’s death, the zoo hopes that everyone can become more aware of the effect fireworks can have on animals.
Staff want people to now think hard and adopt alternative arrangements for the annual celebrations, such as silent fireworks or different, animal-friendly options.
“Her birth was a real high point for us in amongst the challenges of having to close the zoo for three months in support of the national lockdown,” added Jayne Gibbins, senior keeper at the zoo.
“We are all feeling her loss greatly.”
Main photo: Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm
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