Baby red panda died from the stress of fireworks, said Edinburgh Zoo

Edinburgh Zoo’s baby red panda has died from stress caused by fireworks on Bonfire Night, according to veterinary experts.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) said three-month-old Roxie choked on her own vomit as pyrotechnics were set off across the city.

Roxie’s mother, Ginger, had also died accidentally five days earlier, and vets said they could not rule out that this was also related to the sound of the fireworks.

The zoo is now joining animal welfare charities and other campaigns to call for stricter restrictions on fireworks.

The red panda is native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China but has become an endangered species, mainly due to habitat loss, human interference and poaching.

Roxie was born in July, taking the number of captive red pandas at Edinburgh Zoo to four, and the fifth arrived in Scotland from Whipsnade zoo in October.

But on October 31, RZSS, which runs Edinburgh Zoo, announced the death of nine-year-old Ginger, and kit Roxie died five days later.

New powers banning the use of fireworks came into force in four areas of Edinburgh between 1-10 November – although this did not include the area around the zoo.

Ben Supple, RZSS deputy chief executive, said baby Roxie had access to the cave on Bonfire Night but the “scary noises” seemed too much for her.

He said: “Roxie recently lost her mother Ginger but is responding well to specialist care from our expert team and is eating independently.

“Sadly, he choked on vomit on Bonfire Night and our vet believes it may have been a reaction to the fireworks.

“We know fireworks can be stressful for other animals at the zoo and we cannot rule out the possibility that they may have caused the death of Roxie’s mother, Ginger, just five days earlier.”

There was widespread disorder in Edinburgh on Bonfire Night – missiles were thrown at police in Gilmerton and Sighthill and there were two attacks on firefighters in the city.

Firework Control Zones are in place in Niddrie, Balerno, Calton Hill and Seafield – where the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home is located.

The Scottish Government gave local authorities the power in 2022 after massive unrest in Dundee.

Parts of Glasgow were to be covered by the same ban but it was delayed until next year due to a council error.

When Edinburgh’s fireworks control zones were announced in AugustThe Dogs Trust charity said it supported a city-wide ban despite not having a center in Edinburgh.

The RZSS is now calling for a stricter ban on fireworks, saying they cause fear and distress to pets, livestock and zoo animals.

Have supported the petition started by Julie Doorne in Grantham, Lincolnshire, which has been signed by over a million people and sent to Downing Street.

The petition calls for:

• Limit the use of fireworks on traditional dates such as Bonfire Night, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and Diwali
• Reduce the maximum decibels allowed for personal use fireworks from 120 to 97
• Requires all public fireworks displays to be licensed
• Require fireworks packaging to be labeled indicating the noise level

Ben Supple said it was “vital” for the UK and Scottish governments to crack down on the use and sale of fireworks.

He said: “We support calls from animal welfare charities to ban the sale of fireworks to the public, with light displays allowed at organized events.

“This will help avoid harmful consequences for animals like Roxie while ensuring that people can still enjoy traditional celebrations.”

A spokesman for the UK’s business and trade department said: “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.

“We strive to keep pets and the public safe and that’s why we’re launching a new fireworks safety campaign this season to help people use them safely and correctly.”