Zebra shot dead after escaping circus in Germany | World News

A zebra has been shot dead after escaping from a circus in Germany.

The animal had caused a traffic accident and damaged cars after running away from the circus in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Tuesday night.

:: Warning: Some readers may find some of the images below distressing

A zebra stands in a field as a man with a tranquilizer gun tries to approach it

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Police said there were several unsuccessful attempts to capture the animal

Police said that after “a number of unsuccessful attempts” to detain the zebra over several hours, it was shot dead in the village of Thelkow on Wednesday morning.

A second zebra that had also fled the circus was captured.

A zebra walks next to a police car on the A20 motorway near the village of Tessin, north-eastern Germany

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The zebra was pictured running on the A20 highway

According to police, the zebra that was later killed had been running on the A20 highway and caused an accident involving two vehicles.

No one was injured but the road was temporarily closed.

A zebra stands in a meadow near the village of Thelkow, north-eastern Germany

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Police said the exact circumstances of the incident ‘are still being clarified’

The zebra ran away from the A20, damaging more cars, before it was seen in a field between Kowalz and Thelkow, police said.

“The circus tamer responsible for the animal then also tried in vain to bring the zebra under control,” a police spokesman said.

A zebra lies dead by the roadside after it was shot near Liepen, north-eastern Germany

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The zebra was shot dead in the village of Thelkow on Wednesday morning

Emergency rescue workers from a local fire brigade joined the effort to try and capture the zebra before it was shot.

A police spokesman said the exact circumstances of the incident “are still being clarified”.

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