…to ask why you still buy fireworks

[xolotl]

https://mailchi.mp/58291132e1c5/red-panda-update-from-edinburgh-zoo-5799234

From the email:

”Very sadly, she choked on her vomit on bonfire night and our vets believe this was probably a reaction to fireworks. Roxie had access to her den but the frightening noises seem to have been too much for her. We are also concerned that fireworks cause stress to other animals in the zoo.

Fireworks can cause fear and distress for pets, livestock and animals in zoos, so it is essential that the UK government tightens restrictions. We support calls from animal welfare charities to ban the sale of fireworks to the public, with only light displays being permitted at organised events.”

Poor panda. That's very sad.

Perhaps I agree with no fireworks right next to a zoo.

But not for the rest of us don't be daft.

I don’t buy fireworks.

How long has the zoo been open?
Something will always upset someone. Whilst I agree it’s sad. Are you seriously saying we should ban fireworks as a reasonable response to this piece of sad news.

I don't buy them nor go to displays but fireworks aren't new, they have been around longer than the zoo

Because I like them.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700013

This is a sad story, but there’s more than one reason why there shouldn’t be pandas in Edinburgh in the first place.

Zoos are controversial so I’m not sure they can be used as a strong argument in a debate that’s already divisive.

Oh goodness that’s so sad.

I think it’s a case of knowing better now. I would love private sales to be banned. At least with organised displays you can make plans.

I have 3 dogs. One of them shakes and gets in a state. The others aren’t bothered.

it’s heartbreaking knowing the harm they can do (also Chinese lanterns/helium balloons)

it’s only humans who wilfully destroy habitat as some kind of birth right.

That's so sad. What i don't understand is that they say she had access to her den - but why didn't they shut her in knowing it was bonfire night? I would have thought they would shut all the animals in overnight during this period.

When I had horses, we kept ours out. Better they bomb around a secure field than incur themselves trying to jump out of a stable (happened previously, horse had to be PTS).

Thank you for linking this, I have just signed.

Because I have a childlike love for fire and bangs. They are fun. You get to legally play with explosives.

Shame you couldnt just ask the question without an irrelevant news story.

Because it’s really fun. I’m not in favour of regulating all risk out of existence, because it also means you end up in a lifeless, humourless, fun-less society. Fireworks are a few nights a year and the harm to animals overall is actually minimal.

Incidentally, motorways are about a million times worse for wildlife (and actually they’re pretty terrible for humans and the planet), but no one is proposing to get rid of them. Banning fireworks is just fiddling while Rome burns.

I'm not sure if sparklers count, but I buy them because we like them and it's one of the few traditions from when I was kid that I've continued with mine.

I haven't bought any others for many years, but last month my 17 year old convinced me to buy to buy a pack advertised as low noise to test them...and then she forgot about them on the 5th, so they're staying to test out for new years to see if they're actually low noise. If they aren't, I doubt we'll use more than one as she's sound sensitive, that's why she wants to test them. She thinks they're very pretty, but hates the noise.

I can see bringing in sharper penalties for mis selling - most of the tragedies that have happened go back to that - or limiting the volume they can be, many people are fed up with it, a full ban though - it comes up every year, but I'm not sure it gets the support or how effective it would be.

I concur

Why are pandas in Edinburgh anyway

Because people are selfish knobheads. I'm amazed that the general public, who let's face it are more and more lacking in common sense, are able to buy legal explosives.

The responsibility lies with the zoos staff and veterinary experts, they needed to ensure the animals were comfortable on a well known event that causes animals distress.

I agree a city is a silly place to have a zoo

We don't. We go to an organised display.

I think they should only have organised public displays and think carefully about where they have them. Even that has some risks (a young boy who was a tourist visiting his older sibling lost his eye walking by the Liverpool display back in 2015) but at least it’s kept to a minimum.

I don’t think they should be for private sale though. I had some “friends” chuck them at me when I was a teen 🙄I had no idea they even had any in their possession.

A number of horses at a sanctuary died because fireworks scared them to death

I can't bear to think of the wildlife affected

Explain, in detail, how you'd do that?

People can't even keep their pets calm with medication, closed curtains and white noise

But there’s animals everywhere so why are people saying just don’t do them next to the zoo?!?!?