December 26, 2025

Zebra at Rhode Island zoo dies in ‘tragic accident’ during intense thunderstorms

According to the zoo, a zebra that had resided at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence for over 20 years passed away in a terrible accident last week while a storm swept through the area.

Last Thursday, Samantha, a plains zebra who was 24 years old, passed away.

According to the zoo’s social media post, Samantha apparently lost her mind during the storm that struck on the evening of July 3rd and was fatally injured after crashing into a fence in her holding area. A necropsy verified that she died instantly.

When this tragedy happened, all of the zoo’s zebras were in their holding area, the institution stated in a response.

Parts of Rhode Island saw severe thunderstorms last week, which brought down enormous trees and apparently left over 50,000 people without electricity.

Staff at the zoo are keeping an eye on the two zebras that are left while they cope with Samantha’s passing. According to the zoo, she had been there since 2003.

Among our zebra herd, Samantha was a favorite and was especially close to her friend Tundra. According to the zoo, Samantha was well-known for having a quiet but kind disposition.

Sign up for the Today newsletter

Receive all the information you require to begin your day, given directly to your inbox each morning.

Avatar photo

Janet Trew

Janet Trew is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in the industry. Known for her ability to adapt to different styles and formats, she has cultivated a diverse skill set that spans content creation, storytelling, and technical writing. Throughout her career, Janet has worked across various niches, from US news, crime, finance, lifestyle, and health to business and technology, consistently delivering well-researched, engaging, and informative content.

View all posts by Janet Trew →

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *