[Ammi]

Fireworks are believed to have caused the death of a young zebra called Hope, who was born in March at the beginning of England’s first national lockdown.

Noah’s Ark Zoo farm announced with “great sadness” the death of the animal on Wednesday 4 November.

According to the farm, located just outside Bristol, Hope was named by keepers “to symbolise a ray of light at a time which felt so bleak.”

They added that the zebra had become a “symbol of positivity to our keepers and many of our visitors alike”.

Hope reportedly became spooked by the loud bangs from several of the local firework displays on the evening of 4 November.

The fright caused her to bolt and she fatally collided with the boundary of the enclosure, with the sudden impact causing her death, the post-mortem has revealed.

Managing Director of the zoo, Larry Bush, said: “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.

He continued: “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.”

Meanwhile, Jayne Gibbins, a senior keeper at the zoo, added: “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 and we are all feeling her loss greatly.”

The zoo are urging people to understand the effect fireworks can have on animals, and to use the tragic event as “impetus for change”.

“We really hope that people will not think hard and adopt alternative arrangements for celebrations, including silent fireworks or more animal-friendly options,” they said in a statement.

Elsewhere, fireworks on Thursday evening caused the death of a rabbit in Wigan, who suffered a fatal seizure after “bomb-like” fireworks were let off nearby.

The animal's owner, student nurse Jen Bradshaw, said on Facebook shortly afterwards: “This is the real impact of fireworks on frightened animals.”

Also on Bonfire Night, a horse that was hit in the face by a firework set off nearby now faces losing his eye, after the incident left him with “irreversible” damage. The firework that injured the 21-year-old horse Dettori left him in “excruciating pain” in Countesswells, Aberdeen.

The animal’s “distraught” owners, Charley Taylor and her mother Debbie, have set up a GoFundMe page to raise funds for the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) in order “to help other animals hurt due to fireworks.”


https://uk.yahoo.com/news/zebra-call...171932056.html

[Swan]

Ok yeah **** fireworks so much

[Amy Jade]

So incredibly sad, they seriously need banning.

[Zizu]

That is just so incredibly sad ...and unnecessary


This what we’re dealing with nowadays ..




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[Cal.]

I can’t ****ing stand fireworks

Rest in peace Hope

[Shaun]

So sad. I can't fathom how people can celebrate with fireworks when they literally scare animals to death.

[Saph]

we lost hope </3

[joeysteele]

Sad and sickening.

[UserSince2005]

I love zebra.
I remember coming across a huge herd for a few hundred in the wild landscapes of Etosha NP, Namibia.
Such a lovely experience.

[UserSince2005]

Oh and the magnificent grevy zebra I spotted whilst driving through the far north of Kenya near marsabit. So lucky as there are only a few left. You know when you see them they have so many more strips

[Black Dagger]

Just say RIP Zebra, how sad. Tbh x

[UserSince2005]

Originally Posted by Black Dagger

Just say RIP Zebra, how sad. Tbh x

If you ever leave Stockport you might understand the passion.

[Dogeatdog]

RIP Hope ): The amount of stories I’ve heard about animals dying or having serious injuries because of fireworks is truly heartbreaking.

[Black Dagger]

RIP Zebra. Such a sad story x

[Kate!]

RIP Hope. Bless. X

[Cherie]

Just awful, poor little Hope, 2020s needs to be gone

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Dogeatdog

RIP Hope ): The amount of stories I’ve heard about animals dying or having serious injuries because of fireworks is truly heartbreaking.

I remember the one year hearing about Dogs dying of a Heart Attack due to being distressed about the Fireworks.

RIP to the Zebra and Rabbit.

[AnnieK]

OMG how sad

[thesheriff443]

A wild animal belongs in the wild and they are all just called zebras.

[Kazanne]

I was about to post this ,such sad news just because some moron wanted to hear a loud bang and a few sparkles ,pathetic ,poor little Zebra, RIP, and that poor rabbit must have been so scared

[Nicky91]

cancel fireworks for good now pls

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by thesheriff443

A wild animal belongs in the wild and they are all just called zebras.

Yes they should , but lets face it ,they are not even safe there mainly due to humans.

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Yes they should , but lets face it ,they are not even safe there mainly due to humans.

yup another very disgusting cruel thing called poaching

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Just awful, poor little Hope, 2020s needs to be gone

The worrying thing is that last New Year’s Eve many of us said the very same thing about 2019 then celebrated 2020 with great anticipation .


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[Crimson Dynamo]

Makes me so mad. I just cant understand how neighbours can let of 20 huge bangs at 6pm and not at least warn neighbours.

Its beyond selfish