Fireworks Blamed for Tragic Death of Edinburgh Zoo's Baby Red Panda on Bonfire Night

Edinburgh Zoo has been left devastated by the tragic death of a one-year-old red panda cub on Bonfire Night.

The cub, named Hamish, died after swallowing a piece of firework that had been thrown into his enclosure.

Keepers at the zoo found Hamish collapsed in his enclosure on November 5th, shortly after a fireworks display had taken place nearby. Despite attempts to revive him, he sadly died a short time later.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Hamish had ingested a large piece of firework, which had caused internal injuries. The zoo said that the firework had been thrown into the enclosure from outside the park.

The death of Hamish has shocked and saddened staff at Edinburgh Zoo. Red pandas are an endangered species, and there are only around 10,000 left in the wild, reports the National Geographic. The zoo said that Hamish was a "much-loved" member of the team and that his death is a "huge loss."

The incident has prompted the zoo to call for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public.

The zoo's chief executive, Gordon Mercer, said: "This is a tragic and senseless death. Fireworks are dangerous and have no place in our communities. We urge the government to ban the sale of fireworks to the public so that other animals do not suffer the same fate as Hamish."

The RSPB has also called for a ban on the sale of fireworks to the public, saying that they are a "major threat" to wildlife. The RSPB says that fireworks can cause burns, blindness, and even death to animals.

The incident has also sparked a debate about the use of fireworks in general.

Some people argue that fireworks are a harmless form of entertainment, while others say that they are a danger to people and animals alike. The debate is likely to continue in the run-up to Bonfire Night next year.

In the meantime, Edinburgh Zoo is appealing to the public to be more responsible with fireworks. The zoo is asking people to only use fireworks in a safe and responsible manner, and to dispose of them properly.