Zebra dead at Milwaukee County Zoo following accident

UPDATED: 11:21 a.m. on May 25,2023:

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee County Zoo responded to concerns about the safety of the wire fencing on Facebook, noting, "The fencing meets the standards set forth by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and passed inspection. The same wire fencing is used by other accredited zoos across the country."

They also said that the fencing is not electrified and meets the standards set by the AZA, having passed its last routine inspection on March 14. They claim the same fencing is used by other accredited zoos across the country.

PUBLISHED: 10:27 a.m. on May 25, 2023:

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee County Zoo has announced that a zebra died in an accident in the zoo's Impala Plains habitat.

Stuart, a male zebra, was actively exploring the yard of the habitat, engaging in his usual play with impalas when he hit a wire containment fence pole on Wednesday, May 24 between 9:30 and 10 a.m.

Despite a response from the veterinary team, Stuart's injuries proved to be fatal.

The zoo noted on Facebook that the loss is "heartbreaking."

The impalas that Stuart shared the Impala Plains habitat with were temporarily brought inside while ostriches returned to the yard.

Born in 2018 at Hemker Park & Zoo in Minnesota, Stuart had been a member of the Milwaukee County Zoo since 2019.