Baby zebra named Hope, born weeks into the pandemic, died after fireworks were set off
Born shortly after the United Kingdom imposed lockdowns earlier this year, a beloved zebra deemed a "ray of light" died last week after fireworks went off at a nearby celebration and she ran into her enclosure's fence.
Hope, named by her owners at the Noah's Ark Zoo in Bristol due to her birth taking place shortly after the coronavirus pandemic bagan, was "full of energy and life," her owners said in a statement. She died Nov. 4.
"It appears that the fright (from the fireworks) caused the animal to bolt and she collided with the boundary of the enclosure," a statement from the zoo said. An autopsy found that the impact of the collision led to her death.
Larry Bush, the zoo's managing director, said in a statement that Hope's death can show how fireworks affect wildlife and pets — and bring about "alternative arrangements" for festivities in lieu of fireworks.
Fireworks create a sense of "panic" in pets and wildlife alike, akin to thunderstorms experts say. Pet owners are advised not to leave their furry friends outdoor when there are fireworks, even if they are leashed or fenced in a yard.
"We know this was not the intention of local organizers 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,” Bush said in a statement.
Read this: Dogs 'think they're going to die' on the Fourth of July. We can help them, and here's how.
Contributing: Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY. Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zebra Hope, born during COVID pandemic, dies after fireworks in UK
