Reading Time: < 1 minute The animal (not pictured) was shot by an animal rescue officer (Photo: Adobe. Do not use without permission)
Reading Time: < 1 minute

A zebra has been shot dead after escaping from a circus in Germany.

Two of the animals managed to get out of their cages. One was captured and returned to the Circus Barlay which had stopped at the north-eastern town of Tessin in Germany yesterday.

But the other – called Pumba – ran onto the nearby A20 motorway, causing an accident as two cars swerved to avoid each other. Neither of the drivers were injured.

Shot

After police made failed attempts to capture Pumba, an officer from Animal Rescue Services shot the animal. Local city authorities claimed the zebra was shot from 60 meters away, and could not be tranquillised.

But witnesses denied the animal was so far away – telling German outlet Die Welt that the zebra was shot from a distance of around 10 meters.

“There was no danger. He was exhausted, his head was down,” local resident Petra Melchin said.

Maria Chiorando

Maria is the editor of Plant Based News. As a former magazine editor, newspaper reporter, and features writer, her work has been published by The Guardian, The Huffington Post, and various regional newspapers, as well as Vegan Life magazine and Vegan Trade Journal. She has interviewed a huge range of people, from Prime Ministers to authors, activists, pop stars and actors, and enjoys the varied range of topics writing for PBN allows her to tackle.