Shocking moment cruel yobs lob bottle at giraffe’s head after breaking into zoo and vandalising enclosures
THIS is the shocking moment two yobs broke into a popular zoo and threw a bottle at a giraffe’s head before vandalising the enclosures.
Nathan Daniels, 21, cut the barbed wire fence at Marwell Zoo before he and accomplice Bradley Green carried out the attack, leaving animals “very distressed”.
Daniels pleaded guilty to damaging the penguin’s enclosure while Green, 24, admitted damaging an enclosure containing giraffes.
A court heard that according to keepers at the zoo near Eastleigh, Hants, many of their animals were left ‘very distressed’ by the nighttime raid, particularly the giraffes, cheetahs and tigers.
Daniels and Green admitted the charges when they appeared at Winchester Crown Court, Hants. Green has also admitted causing animal cruelty.
However, charges of burglary and criminal damage against friends Jason Huggitt, 24, and 23 year old Coral Lock, who was accused of assisting the offenders, were dropped.
Video footage posted on social media at the time of the break-in in February 2021 appeared to show a bottle being thrown at the head of a giraffe.
A tiger was also filmed apparently being encouraged to approach a fence before being kicking out at and scared away.
Multiple police units, including armed response officers with night vision goggles, a dog unit and a helicopter were dispatched to catch the intruders following the incident, amid fears endangered animals were at risk.
Marwell Zoo opened in 1972 and has proved a popular family destination since. It has been home to giraffes and tigers since then and currently homes four giraffes and two tigers.
Their colony of Humboldt penguins recently lost ‘several’ birds after a breakout of avian flu but visitors can still enjoy seeing other endangered species like Southern White Rhinoceros, Amur Leopards, Giant Anteaters and Pygmy hippos.
Previously, Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court, Hants, heard the gang had cut through a ‘double chain link fence’ before the yobs entered.
Prosecuting, David Fosler told magistrates: “The zoo’s general maintenance manager found that an internal fence had been cut in a vertical line.
“A barbed wire fence had also been cut.
“Several animal enclosures were interfered with.
“The zoo’s keepers say the animals were very distressed, particularly the giraffes, cheetahs and tigers.”
Daniels and Green, both from Fareham, Hants, were released on unconditional bail until they appear again at Winchester Crown Court for sentencing in January.
Judge Andrew Barnett warned the pair if they did not attend, they would be committing a further criminal offence.