A zebra that was rescued alongside I-75 two years ago after it apparently fell from a truck has died.
Noah's Ark, the Locust Grove animal rehabilitation center that rescued the zebra, named Evidence, announced Thursday on its website that the animal died of injuries sustained on the highway.
The zebra was about 3 months old when it was found grazing along I-75 on April 8, 2008. Authorities said at the time that he apparently fell from a truck then was hit by a car. He was rushed to the veterinary school at Auburn University in Alabama, where he underwent extensive surgery to repair pelvic injuries, then a second surgery in June.
His health improved, but then, on Nov. 20, his behavior suddenly changed. He stopped playing with the miniature horse with whom he was corralled, and stood alone on the far side of his habitat, according to Noah's Ark.
Evidence was loaded into a trailer for transport to the Auburn vet. He didn't survive the trip. When the doors were opened, he was found dead.
The rescue center awaited the results of a necropsy to announce his death. Auburn University determined that he died due to the failure of a stent that was installed to repair his shattered urethra, Noah's Ark said. "The stent failed, causing a backup of urine in his blood, resulting in a systemwide infection throughout his body."
Noah's Ark will hold a memorial service at Evidence's old habitat, at 1 p.m. on Jan. 8.
Another zebra, Lima, a 12-year-old circus animal that ran through downtown Atlanta in early 2010, was euthanized in March.
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