Bighorn Sheep Escapes Los Angeles Zoo, Dies After Car Strikes It

[JI7]

Source: reuters

A bighorn sheep escaped from the Los Angeles Zoo at Griffith Park on Saturday and dashed around the hills in the park for hours before it ended up on a residential street where it was struck by a car and died, a zoo spokeswoman said.

The sheep got free from its enclosure and darted through an area where zoo visitors were gathered. It escaped the zoo, probably by jumping a fence, and scampered around the hills of the park, said zoo spokeswoman April Spurlock.

The animal was loose for about three hours before it was struck by a car on a residential street near the Greek Theatre, she said. The concert venue is about 2 miles southwest of the zoo, on the other side of Griffith Park.

Veterinarians and animal care staff set up a perimeter around the sheep and tranquilized it. The animal died a short time later, Spurlock said, and it appears the sheep succumbed to injuries from being hit by the car but a necropsy is planned to determine the exact cause of death.

The car's driver did not stop after striking the animal, but witnesses saw the car-on-sheep collision, Spurlock said.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/23/us-usa-sheep-losangeles-idUSKCN0J700F20141123

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i wonder if the driver can be charged for not stopping or if that only applies if they hit a person.

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. Most likely the driver would have sued the zoo if he/she had stopped

[Warpy]

2. I think it's still leaving the scene of an accident

Drunks do that a lot.

[SunSeeker]

3. So sad. Poor thing.

[branford]

4. I do not believe that "hit and run" statutes apply to sheep.

Over 17 years as a trial lawyer, and I can honestly say I never thought that I would ever write that sentence.

[C Moon]

5. :(

[BumRushDaShow]

6. That collision would have damaged the hell out of the car

That's just so sad for the poor sheep. I remember seeing some almost 30 years ago during a trip to Colorado on the way up to the summit of Pike's Peak via the cog railway. Nothing like seeing these beautiful animals in their natural habit staring at you staring at them while riding along at 9 mph.

Of course Griffith is up in the Hollywood Hills which has its own rocky cliffs (have been up through those hills as well) and it would have been difficult to corral it in those conditions.

[newfie11]

7. Here in western South Dakota I've hit a few deer in 25 years

One took off up a cliff, one ran into the side of my truck and it left the scene.
I did hit one late at night on a country rd. Actually it committed suicide by running into the door of my truck.
I never called the state police for any of them, just the insurance company.
We also have Big Horns near Hill City SD. There is a stretch where they are often seen near the rd. Big yellow flashing signs warning tourists to watch out for them.

[Mosby]

8. what a shame

It wouldn't have lasted long in the Hollywood hills though.

[zonkers]

9. The L.A. Zoo should be shut down. More animals have escaped or died

due to negligence dating back to the 90's than you would think. Wolves, apes, antelope.

[ileus]

10. It's an animal....animals get hit by vehicles all the time.

State road crews come by and pick up the bigger critters (bears, deer...ect.) the small ones are left on the road.

[closeupready]

11. +1, lol.

That idea can seem positively radical sometimes here on DU.