Fireworks likely caused a baby red panda to become so stressed she choked on her vomit and died, experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said Thursday while pleading for tighter restrictions on the celebratory illuminations.
Roxie, a 3-month-old red panda, died at the Edinburgh Zoo on Nov. 5 — known as Bonfire Night in the UK.
The holiday, marking the anniversary of a failed scheme to blow up London’s House of Parliament in 1605, is celebrated with massive bonfires and fireworks displays, which likely caused the baby panda severe stress, RZSS officials said.
Roxie’s mother, Ginger, died five days earlier and zoo officials say they can’t rule out the possibility that both animals died from stress caused by the pyrotechnic display.
Even after the loss of her mother, Roxie “was responding well to specialist care from our expert team and was feeding independently,” said Ben Supple, RZSS’s deputy chief executive.
“Very sadly, she choked on her vomit on Bonfire Night and our vets believe this was probably a reaction to fireworks,” Supple said.
“Roxie had access to her den but the frightening noises seem to have been too much for her. We know that fireworks can cause stress to other animals in the zoo and we cannot rule out that they may have contributed to the untimely death of Roxie’s mother Ginger, just five days earlier.”
The Zoological Society is now joining with UK animal charities to promote a public petition signed by more than a million people calling for banning the sale of fireworks to average citizens.
The petition, which endorses fireworks at organized events, was delivered to the UK Government last week, according to Supple.
“Fireworks can cause fear and distress for pets, livestock and animals in zoos, so it is essential that the UK and Scottish governments tighten restrictions on their sale and use,” Supple said.
“We support calls from animal welfare charities to ban the sale of fireworks to the public, with only light displays being permitted at organized events. This would help avoid devastating consequences for animals like Roxie while ensuring that people can still enjoy traditional celebrations,” he added.
Red pandas are an endangered species native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China.
Roxie was born in July, bringing the total number of red pandas at the Edinburgh Zoo to four. A fifth red panda arrived in Scotland from Whipsnade Zoo in October.
