Experts from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) believe that fireworks likely contributed to the death of a baby red panda at Edinburgh Zoo after she became so stressed that she choked on her own vomit. Three-month-old Roxie passed away on November 5, which coincided with Bonfire Night in the UK, a time when fireworks are set off across the country to mark the failed 1605 gunpowder plot.
Roxie’s mother, Ginger, had died just days before Roxie, but the zoo’s deputy chief executive, Ben Supple, explained that Roxie had been responding well to specialist care and was feeding independently. However, despite having access to a safe space in her den, the loud noises from the fireworks were too overwhelming for the young panda.
Supple noted that fireworks can cause significant stress to animals at the zoo, and while they cannot confirm if the fireworks were responsible, it’s possible that the same stress factors contributed to Ginger’s sudden death just days earlier.
Red pandas are an endangered species, with their numbers in the wild continuing to decline.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which manages Edinburgh Zoo, is now advocating for stricter regulations on fireworks due to the harm they pose to animal welfare. The charity highlighted a public petition, which has gathered over 1 million signatures, urging the UK government to take action on this issue.
RZSS’s position is supported by other animal welfare groups, including the RSPCA. The RSPCA reported receiving over 13,000 responses to surveys over the past three years, many of which described animals exhibiting signs of fear and distress from fireworks.
This isn’t the first time fireworks have been linked to animal fatalities. In November 2020, a baby zebra at Bristol Zoo also died after being frightened by the loud noises of fireworks.
Ben Supple, deputy chief executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), emphasized that fireworks can cause significant fear and distress to pets, livestock, and zoo animals. He called on both the UK and Scottish governments to introduce stricter regulations on the sale and use of fireworks. Supple expressed support for animal welfare organizations advocating for a ban on the public sale of fireworks, suggesting that only organized displays should be allowed. This, he said, would prevent tragedies like the death of baby red panda Roxie while still enabling people to enjoy traditional celebrations.
Currently, UK law prohibits setting off fireworks between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., except on certain holidays like Bonfire Night, New Year’s Eve, Diwali, and Chinese New Year. Fireworks can be sold to the public by licensed sellers during specific periods, including October 15 to November 10, December 26-31, and the days around Diwali and Chinese New Year.
A 2019 parliamentary inquiry into the issue concluded that a full ban on the public sale of fireworks would likely be ineffective and economically damaging. However, it recommended working with animal welfare experts to set lower noise limits for fireworks and collaborating with local authorities to limit private displays at events such as birthdays and weddings.
In response to Roxie’s death, a spokesperson for the Department for Business and Trade expressed sympathy, stating, “We are sorry to hear of the death of Roxie the panda, and our thoughts are with the team who cared for her at Edinburgh Zoo.” They also noted their commitment to public and pet safety through a new fireworks safety campaign.
Siobhian Brown, Scotland’s community safety minister, explained that while the Scottish government has limited powers to address the issue, she has written to the UK government requesting a meeting to discuss further steps for improving fireworks regulations.