A zebra that was disembowelled by a rhino in front of horrified visitors at a zoo was accidentally caught up in playful ‘sparring’, it has been revealed.
Families enjoying a day out at Colchester Zoo in Essex were left shocked by the dramatic scenes as Ziggy the zebra was gored.
The zoo has now confirmed Astrid, a southern white rhino, was tussling with her son Tayo when she tried to nudge Ziggy out of the way, causing the fatal injuries.
In a statement, it said: ‘Astrid and her son Tayo were sparring with one another, which is a regular and natural behaviour for this species.
‘On this occasion, unfortunately, Astrid attempted to move Ziggy out of the way and in doing so unintentionally punctured his stomach and he died of those injuries a few minutes later.’
The zoo said Ziggy had ‘lived happily with the other species’ in the mixed African species habitat for reticulated giraffes, maneless zebras, white rhinos, ostriches, crowned cranes and a greater kudu – a type of antelope – since he arrived there in November 2017.
Adding it would review its care of animals to minimise the risk of another incident, it continued: ‘These sorts of incidents are extremely rare and we are devastated by this loss. Ziggy was a much-loved animal who will be dearly missed.’
The distressing incident happened on Friday lunchtime at the Kingdom of the Wild area, with gory images caught on camera phones by families who had been taken photos and footage of the animals.
A rhino at Colchester Zoo. Astrid, a southern white rhino, was tussling with her son Tayo when she tried to nudge Ziggy the zebra, causing him fatal injuries
In a statement, the zoo said that Ziggy had lived happily in the mixed African species habitat since arriving there in November 2017
Tim Miller, of Essex, who was visiting the wildlife park with his children and grandchildren, described how the two rhinos had been ‘playfully chasing and butting each other’ before things turned ‘less than playful’ and other animals had to take ‘evasive action’.
‘The big rhino was being picked on by the little juvenile one and I think they had enough,’ Mr Miller said.
‘I didn’t actually see the incident happen but all of a sudden this zebra was running around. It did get disembowelled and it was getting worse as it was running.’
He added: ‘All those animals have been running around together for quite a few years, so there isn’t a lesson to learn, I think – it was purely an accident.’
Edward Bull, 44, who witnessed the ‘very sad’ death, told MailOnline: ‘The attack seemed random and just wrong place, wrong time.’
Another onlooker who was at the zoo with their daughter and three-year-old grandson, said: ‘There was one particular rhino that wouldn’t leave an ostrich alone and I though he looked annoyed at the time.
Rhinos at Colchester Zoo. The park welcomed over a million visitors last year and has kept rhinos since 1972
Witnesses said they saw the rhinos ‘playfully chasing and butting each other’ before things took a turn for the worse. Pictured: Two southern white rhinos at the zoo
‘Thank goodness my little grandson didn’t witness it. So very sad for all involved.’
Astrid has given birth to two calves at the zoo, including one in January 2023.
Colchester Zoo, which is the third most popular wildlife park in England with a million visitors every year, opened in 1963 and has kept rhinos since 1972.
The Kingdom of the Wild habitat opened in 2001, with an indoor zone and outdoor paddock.
