Edinburgh, Scotland – The recent death of a three-month-old red panda named Roxie at the Edinburgh Zoo has prompted renewed calls for stricter regulations on fireworks displays in the UK. Officials from the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which operates the zoo, attribute Roxie’s death to the stress caused by continuous fireworks noise during the city’s Bonfire Night celebrations.
Loss of Young Red Panda Draws Attention to Fireworks Impact
Roxie, who had lost her mother, Ginger, just days prior, died on November 5. The zoo reported that Roxie was highly agitated by the sounds of nearby fireworks, which are part of the annual Bonfire Night celebrations on November 5th, commemorating the foiled 1605 Gunpowder Plot led by Guy Fawkes.
“We were hopeful when Roxie began eating on her own,” said Ben Supple, deputy chief executive of RZSS, “but the fireworks proved overwhelming.” According to Supple, camera footage captured Roxie becoming distressed and unwell, leading her to choke on her vomit, which caused her death.
Fireworks and Wildlife: A Recurring Issue
Each year, fireworks displays across the UK can reach sound levels up to 160 decibels, posing distress and danger to animals sensitive to noise. Supple explained that red pandas, like Roxie, are highly sensitive to low-frequency sounds, making them particularly susceptible to fireworks noise.
Even “silent fireworks,” marketed as a solution to reduce disturbance, emit low-frequency noises that can disturb animals. “It’s not just the loud bangs,” said Supple. “These so-called silent fireworks still create vibrations and low frequencies that animals can detect and react to.”
Edinburgh Zoo Advocates for Fireworks Restrictions
The RZSS is supporting petitions signed by over a million people, which demand stricter controls on fireworks sales and use. Current proposals suggest banning fireworks sales to the public, limiting displays to large public events, and potentially replacing them with light displays.
Supple noted that other zoo animals, including giraffes, chimpanzees, lions, and tigers, are kept indoors during Edinburgh’s Bonfire Night to shield them from the noise, but smaller animals like Roxie, even in their dens, remain at risk.
An Endangered Species
Roxie’s death highlights the challenges of conserving endangered species like the red panda, which is native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. Habitat loss, poaching, and other human-driven disturbances have made them vulnerable in the wild.
The zoo’s remaining red pandas include Roxie’s father, Bruce, who now lives as one of the three surviving pandas. As red pandas have a lifespan of over 20 years, Roxie’s loss at such a young age was a significant blow to conservation efforts.
The Broader Call for Change
The RZSS’s call for tighter fireworks controls has garnered support from animal welfare groups and conservationists who emphasize that reducing noise pollution benefits not only zoo animals but also pets and wildlife.
“Animals like Roxie are ambassadors, connecting people to the importance of biodiversity,” Supple remarked. “But to protect them, we must consider measures that account for their well-being, including restricting fireworks.”
