Edinburgh Zoo’s baby red panda, Roxie, tragically died on Bonfire Night, with veterinary experts citing stress from nearby fireworks as the probable cause. The three-month-old kit, who had recently lost her mother, Ginger, choked on her own vomit during a night of intense fireworks activity across the city, according to the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS).
Roxie’s mother, nine-year-old Ginger, had unexpectedly passed away just five days prior, and zoo veterinarians suspect the loud noises from fireworks could also have contributed to her untimely death. Native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China, red pandas are an endangered species, facing threats from habitat loss and poaching. Edinburgh Zoo, home to a small group of red pandas, had been thrilled by Roxie’s birth in July, and she was responding well to specialist care after Ginger’s sudden passing.
On Bonfire Night, widespread firework activity led to chaos in Edinburgh, with reported attacks on emergency services. The city had designated four areas as “Firework Control Zones,” banning fireworks from November 1-10, though the zoo was not within these zones. Despite having access to her den for shelter, the noise from nearby fireworks proved too overwhelming for Roxie.
The RZSS, along with animal welfare charities, is now urging the government to tighten restrictions on firework use. Their demands include limiting private firework use to traditional celebration dates, reducing permitted noise levels, mandating licenses for public displays, and labeling packaging with noise levels.
Ben Supple, RZSS’s deputy chief executive, emphasized the need for urgent changes: “Banning the sale of fireworks to the public and only allowing organized light displays would protect animals like Roxie from needless suffering while allowing people to celebrate safely.”
A petition supporting these measures, launched by campaigner Julie Doorne, has already gathered over a million signatures and been delivered to Downing Street, underscoring growing public support for stricter firework regulations.
In response, a UK government spokesperson expressed condolences to Roxie’s caretakers, emphasizing ongoing efforts to promote firework safety. However, for Edinburgh Zoo and many animal welfare advocates, current regulations fall short of ensuring the safety of vulnerable animals during firework season.
