...to Hogle Zoo investigating zebra deaths.

This story about the death of the Utah Hogle Zoo's two Zebras, Taji and Monty, was really sad to me. Not only does it upset me that Taji's death was sudden and mysterious, and his partner's following death is also upsetting.

It led me to ask a lot of questions though, which was positive. First of all, there was report of nosebleeds and "possibly blunt force trauma" to their faces, according to the Deseret News. These are certainly alarming symptoms or conditions, and it makes one ask who or what could have caused that.

The second question brought to mind, although addressed in a roundabout way toward the end of the article with success stories of prolonged life at the Hogle Zoo, concerns the living conditions of the animals. The enclosures at the zoo are mostly concrete (at least from what I remember of a few years back), a spawning place for germs, and they are also outdoor. The zebras, while wild animals regardless of captivity, are not horses with natural protective qualities against cold.

Hopefully, whatever did happen, whether natural or not, will be found out. While I may not generally be an animal rights advocate, I care for animals and their treatment. This story caught my attention because of the possibility of mistreatment and abuse, and it makes me sad to hear that these zebras died in a fitful and painful way.