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Edinburgh Zoo, Scotland, is mourning Roxie, a three-month-old red panda. According to the zoo’s management, the animal choked on its own vomit after being startled by the fireworks. The zoo is now demanding a ban on fireworks.
The United Kingdom, including Scotland, celebrates Guy Fawkes Night, also known as Bonfire or Firework Night, on November 5. That night, the British will remember the failure of the 1605 plot in which some Catholics, including Guy Fawkes, planned to blow up the English Parliament. Bonfires and fireworks are an integral part of Bonfire Night for many Brits, but for animals across the Channel it’s more of a night of disaster.
This also applies to Roxie the red panda, an endangered species who apparently got so scared by the Edinburgh fireworks that she choked on her own vomit. “Roxie had recently lost her mother, Ginger, but responded well to our team’s care and was able to eat independently. It’s really bad, he choked on his vomit on Bonfire Night. Our vets believe it was a reaction to the fireworks,” said Ben Supple, deputy director of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which runs the zoo. He said the possibility that Ginger died five days earlier from the stress of the fireworks could not be ruled out.
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Although Bonfire Night in Edinburgh had designated zones where fireworks were prohibited, the area surrounding the zoo was not included in any of these zones. At Edinburgh Zoo, they are so displeased with the incident that Supple is calling on the Scottish and UK governments to tighten the laws on the sale of fireworks. He supports banning sales to citizens.
The zoo is also backing a petition, which has been signed by more than a million people and is being delivered to Downing Street. The petition demands, among other things, the restriction of the private use of fireworks on festive nights, such as bonfire night and New Year’s Eve, as well as the noise level. “This way we can prevent devastating consequences for animals like Roxie,” says Supple.