Zebra Dies at Northern Indiana Farm After Being Left Out in the Cold

A pet zebra has frozen to death after it was left out in subzero temperatures without shelter in Delphi Indiana.

Carroll County Sheriff Tobe Leazenby said deputies were to the Delphi farm on Jan. 30, 2019 at around 8 a.m. CT. They found two zebras, which were pets, and one was dead. The sheriff reported the animal died late Jan. 29 or Wednesday morning. The zebra’s hoofs were stuck in a fence, and it was trying to free it.

Leazenby said the zebra panicked which caused it to take deep breaths and breath quicker. As the animal breathed, the moisture which was in the zebra’s lungs froze. The moisture crystallized and it was impossible for it to breathe.

Deputies examined the farm and found other animals on the property with adequate shelter and food, including a kangaroo, another zebra, goats, and ponies. The other animals were in a shelter.

Wlfi.com posted a photo of the zebras outside in the cold without shelter or a blanket. The actual refuge for the animals was a carport that had open ends.

Leazenby said that it was an accident and there was no neglect from the owners. The case will be reviewed by the Carroll County prosecutor’s office, which is standard.

Written by Barbara Sobel
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware

Sources:

Journal & Courier: Pet zebra dies in ‘freak accident’
WHTR: Zebra dies in Carroll County after it’s unable to get to shelter in cold weather
Fox 59: Zebra dies in Carroll County after being left out in the cold

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