After the deadly shots on a runaway zebra, the circus wants to take legal action against the shooter. Ringmaster Adriane Ortmann announced that she would sue the fire brigade for damages. "We have already contacted a lawyer."
The city of Rostock has defended the procedure, however. Spokesman Ulrich Kunze said the circus did not live up to its responsibilities. "That's why we had to act swiftly to protect the general public." The animal was 60 meters away from the rescuers, but stun guns only reached 40 meters.
A resident, however, had told the German Press Agency immediately after the incident in Liepen near Rostock that the firefighters had been about ten meters from the zebra in delivering the two fatal shots. Circus-tamer Angelo Madel had said that there had been no reason to kill the animal. It had been agreed with the police to stop the zebra with stun guns.
The Rostock police said that no criminal investigations had been initiated, but they were asked to clarify the circumstances. The fire brigade is also seeking clarification, said a spokeswoman for the city of Rostock.
The zebra named Pumba had escaped the circus "Barlay" in Ticino during the night on Wednesday and caused an accident on the A20 motorway. In neighboring Liepen, a member of the animal rescue team of the Rostock fire department shot and killed the animal.