Fireworks scare exotic animals too, keeper says

Exotic animals can be as badly affected by fireworks as dogs and cats, an animal rescue centre has said.

Jamie Mintram, from Ark Wildlife Park in Stickney, Lincolnshire, said in one incident a wallaby and the joey she was carrying died after apparently becoming distressed by fireworks.

He urged people considering setting off fireworks to be "considerate" and attend public displays instead.

"We have things here like [Arctic] foxes and wild cats, and they're going to behave exactly the same way as your domestic dogs and cats. It's pretty much across the board, most animals don't appreciate fireworks," he added.

Following the deaths of the wallaby and joey, overnight on New Year's Eve 2020, Mintram said staff found a used rocket casing in their enclosure.

"It was too much of a coincidence. She'd panicked during the night and run into a fence, breaking her neck. Tragically, she was carrying a joey, which also died.

"It's a highly unusual situation for [animals] to be involved in, to have explosions and ammunition going off over their heads, as well as the loud bangs that come with it and the sudden change of the light."

Monkeys and lemurs were among other species that could struggle to cope with the noise and light, Mintram said.

"We're not here to spoil anyone's fun. But we would urge people to maybe think about public displays that are usually set up in areas that are well away from anywhere that's got a large amount of animals."

Meanwhile, Bransby Horses, an equine charity based near Lincoln, echoed the appeal for people to attend organised displays rather than setting of fireworks at home.

"But if you are, then be mindful of pets and horses around you and notify owners so that they can make provisions to keep their animals safe throughout that time," Rachel Jenkinson, welfare manager, said.

She advised horse owners to keep animals in their normal routine, play music to drown out fireworks and potentially stay with them while displays were happening.

The RSPCA has said it wants to see a change to firework laws to "protect animals and people", including a reduction in noise levels, limits around the sale of consumer fireworks and the introduction of firework-free zones.

The government said it was analysing the results of a public consultation on fireworks, which would help inform decisions on any changes.

A spokesperson said: "We're looking at limiting the sale of the loudest fireworks to consumers and banning any additional high‑risk products from public sale to protect vulnerable people, pets and wildlife."

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