Injured zebra discovered on I-75

Register now, it's free!
Log In | Customer Care

UPDATED: 8:18 p.m. April 10, 2008
Injured zebra discovered on I-75

By SANDRA ECKSTEIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/10/08

Noah's Ark, an exotic animal rescue center in Locust Grove, is used to taking in unusual animals. But they aren't commonly found grazing along I-75.

[ Submit your comments below. ]

Noah's Ark

(ENLARGE)

The injured, abandoned baby zebra

Recent headlines:

• Metro and state news

Lt. Matt Garrison with the Butts County Sheriff's Office said he was directing traffic around a broken-down vehicle Tuesday morning when a woman stopped and told him a zebra was near the roadway.

"You mean a zebra like in Africa zebra?" he asked. When she said "yes," he went to take a look.

"I said, 'This I've got to see,' but she was right. There was a zebra.:

The state Department of Natural Resources called Noah's Ark and asked if they could pick up a baby zebra calmly eating grass near exit 201 on the busy interstate, about 10 miles from the Henry County center. Staff members headed out to pick up the cute striped guy.

The zebra looked fine from a distance, but when rescuers got close, they found the young male was severely injured. Their vet said he probably fell from a truck or trailer and then was hit by another vehicle.

The group, which takes in homeless animals and children and has more than 1,000 animals at its center — including lions, tigers and bison — called the Auburn University vet school and made arrangements to have the zebra examined.

"The police kept referring to him as evidence, so we decided to call him 'Evidence,' " said Diane Smith, assistant to the director at Noah's Ark, which is about 30 miles south of Atlanta. "He's going to have a permanent home with us."

They loaded Evidence into their van — after removing most of the seats — and headed to Auburn. Smith said the Auburn vets decided Evidence, estimated to be two to three months old, needed surgery to survive. His pelvis was crushed, and he had nerve damage and a severed urethra, which had to be rerouted.

"The laceration on his rear was about 10 inches across," said Dr. Huichu Lin, the school's equine section chief.

Lin acknowledged the Auburn vets don't see a lot of zebras, so "we treated him like a horse." She said in addition to the pelvic fracture, the 225-pound baby also had a number of soft tissue and muscle injuries.

The surgery was Wednesday morning, and by Thursday Evidence was walking around and eating. Still, he has a long recovery ahead, Lin said, adding she expects him to stay at the vet school for a week or two.

Officials are still trying to figure out where the little zebra was going and who was hauling him.

Garrison said he didn't know how long the animal was out there, but a man on Monday reported hitting a mule in the same area. He now wonders if the man may have hit a zebra instead.

"His car was badly damaged — it had to be towed off — but we couldn't find a carcass, and we didn't know what a mule would be doing out there anyway," the sheriff's lieutenant said.

Melissa Cummings, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Natural Resources, said there are no licensed zebra breeders in Georgia, and a license is required to keep one.

"Only one individual is licensed to have a zebra in that area and they claimed to have no knowledge of it," Cummings said.

She also said no one reported losing a zebra.

Once Evidence is released from the hospital, he will return to Noah's Ark, which is licensed to have exotic animals, Cummings said. The center houses more than 1,000 homeless animals, and it also is a group home for up to 24 children. The center gets some grants and state money for the children, but most income is from donations and fundraisers.

Officials at the vet school estimated the surgery will cost at least $5,000, plus costs for follow-up. Although Noah's Ark officials didn't have the money, they told the vets to operate to save Evidence. Now they hope donations will cover the cost.

Said Smith: "He just has such a tremendous will to live, we couldn't give up on him."

Anyone who wants to help pay for the surgery can donate at http://www.noahs-ark.org or call 770-957-0888.

Vote for this story!

Related Subjects

Expand this list

Comments

By Bill

May 7, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this

Take this picture down! There is much more going on in Henry county than a zebra that was on the side of the road 2 months ago. I realize the AJC has a budget, but, come on...

By NS

Apr 22, 2008 7:54 AM | Link to this

Southside girl:
This Zebra was offered to UGA to use as teaching tool, but those greedy mongers waned 2 grand from a non profit organization to just evaluate the Zebra. Auburn was happy to take the animal to teach students and save it's life. Thanks to Dave Gardner who owns Locust Grove Vetenary Clinic for assisting in getting Auburn to take in and help the Zebra.

By Wadiya-Adero Fogler

Apr 18, 2008 6:00 AM | Link to this

I just moved to Lamar County (Barnesville, GA). I was reading the local newspaper (I know its called Gazette something) but there was a story in either this week's or last week's paper looking for a baby zebra that was stolen from off of someone's property off of I-75. Maybe you could do some research to find out if the owner is someone in Lamar County. This shouldn't be hard because the newspaper only comes out once a week. I know that there is a property off of I-75 that has alot of horses; just before you get to Barnesville, GA. If you are traveling down I-75 South the property would be on the left-hand side of the road. It seems to be some type of farm or animal zoo. There's a green sign posted in the grass of this particular residence. I hope you find the owner so the zebra could be returned. This has nothing to do with this story but I wanted everyone to know that the citizens of Lamar County (especially Barnesville) are the most kind-hearted, sweetest, friendly, helpful people I have ever met in my life! They all have made me and my family feel so welcomed to their town. THEY ARE THE TRUE DEFINITION OF SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS! If you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to email me back. I hope everyone continues to have a blessed day!

By ryan

Apr 13, 2008 11:13 PM | Link to this

Southside Girl. Are you an idiot or what? I'm a UGA alum but from your comments I sincerely doubt that you are.
Why Auburn? Because Auburn has the BEST vet school in the south, not just one of the best. If you are truly a graduate of UGA, you would have already known that.

We can be proud of Terry school of business and our law school, Auburn on the other hand has the vet school and the second best college of Architecture and Building Science in the nation (Harvard-1st).

By Diane at Noah's Ark

Apr 12, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this

Thank you to all who made donations for Evidence. He came through the surgery well and is in "intensive care" recovering. Check our website at www.noahs-ark.org for updates.

By southside girl

Apr 12, 2008 12:45 AM | Link to this

Auburn? Are you serious? Why there when UGA has one of the top ranked veterinarian schools in the country? Oh well.......anyway, Auburn should do this pro bono. I'm sure they have more than enough money to cover the cost not to mention that vet students do the work FOR FREE! That being said, I made a donation as well and will do so again in the future. Come on UGA Alumni, I'm challenging you as well......step up to the plate!!

By Bonita Alston

Apr 11, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this

There is a sign at an animal hospital near Mobile Alabam with a stating "Loss Zebra, please call if located", I thought this was weird, but this maybe related!!

By Bonita Alston

Apr 11, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this

There is a sign at an animal hospital near Mobile Alabam with a stating "Loss Zebra, please call if located", I thought this was weird, but this maybe related!!

By Bonita Alston

Apr 11, 2008 7:37 PM | Link to this

There is a sign at an animal hospital near Mobile Alabam with a stating "Loss Zebra, please call if located", I thought this was weird, but this maybe related!!

By scott m. anna

Apr 11, 2008 4:55 PM | Link to this

noahs ark and staff a dear to my heart. they will care for the little critter better than anyone. good luck diane and all, hugs, scott
www.scottanna.com

[1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9] next