Escaped Zebra Dies After Reportedly Falling off Cliff

A zebra is reportedly dead after fleeing from the notorious Bailiwick Animal Park in Catskill, New York. She was missing for days before she was found dead after apparently falling off a cliff.

This zebra’s death is yet another example of why zebras and all wild animals should never be held captive, and her escape is no surprise given Bailiwick Animal Park’s long history of violating federal animal-welfare laws, including by maintaining unsafe animal enclosures. PETA has called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to investigate this incident, and we encourage families to stay away from any roadside zoo where animals are displayed, used, or abused.

But this isn’t the first time that a zebra has fled captivity and met a grisly end.

Escaped Zebra Falls in Lake, Dies After Being Chased and Tranquilized

In March, a young zebra in Japan reportedly died after breaking free from his handlers and leading pursuers on an hours-long chase. The morbid “event” was broadcast live, as people on social media followed the animal’s journey. However, the ending to this story made for a very somber status update: The zebra reportedly died after a veterinarian tranquilized him, causing him to fall into a lake and possibly drown. Reports indicate that it’s unclear whether the animal died from drowning or from the tranquilizer.

Zebras Repeatedly Escape Notorious Circus

It’s not just Japan that’s seen zebras dangerously flee from captivity. In March, another pair of zebras broke free from UniverSoul Circus in Oakland, California, months after a pair of zebras escaped from the same circus in Philadelphia. Though the zebras in both of these instances were recovered alive, the animals no doubt endured tremendous stress as they were pursued through busy, noisy streets. As the scared animals navigated through highly trafficked areas, both the zebras and humans in their path were put in harm’s way.

The matter is as black and white as their stripes: Zebras don’t want to be held in captivity, nor should they be.

What You Can Do

Don’t patronize zoos, circuses, or any other place that profits from keeping animals in captivity. To prevent more zebra escapes—and the abuse of other animals—urge UniverSoul to ditch all its cruel animal acts.