An incident between two animals occurred around lunchtime on the Lewa savannah in Zurich Zoo. The white rhinoceros bull Kimba injured the Grevy’s zebra stallion Sjarlie so badly in the stomach that the zebra died on site.
“This is a very unfortunate and unpleasant incident,” zoo director Severin Dressen is quoted in a message. With all precautions there is always a residual risk when different animal species live together. Such an unfortunate collision is the exception. In addition to rhinos and zebras, giraffes, antelopes, ostriches and chickens live in the complex.
The incident has no consequences for the rhinoceros bull. According to the announcement, he acted according to his natural instincts and had no intention of killing. Presumably he just wanted to push the zebra to one side and caught it unlucky.