The death of a baby red panda on Bonfire Night has been linked to fireworks - prompting a call for tighter regulations.
Wildlife conservation charity the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which owns Edinburgh Zoo, said vets blame the death of three-month-old panda kit Roxie on her reaction to fireworks in the local area.
Roxie choked on her own vomit at the zoo on Bonfire Night.
The charity is urging people to contact their local MP and MSP to support a petition containing more than one million signatures calling for tighter firework restrictions which was delivered to Downing Street earlier this month.
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- Death of baby panda at Edinburgh Zoo blamed on fireworks
- Police attacked with fireworks amid Edinburgh Bonfire Night disorder
- Manhunt launched following 'horrific' Edinburgh Halloween disorder
The sale of fireworks has hit the headlines in recent weeks, with both Bonfire Night and Halloween seeing disorder break out in Edinburgh.
Police were confronted by gangs of youths throwing fireworks and officers in riot gear were deployed on both occasions.
Scottish community safety minister Siobhian Brown said: “Fireworks are very distressing for animals and this is sad news.
“I understand why there are a calls for a ban on fireworks, however this is a reserved issue to Westminster and not currently within the Scottish Government’s powers.
“I have written to the UK Government asking for a meeting to discuss what more can be done on fireworks regulations and will also continue to engage with partners to discuss what further action may be considered.
“Within our powers we have provided local authorities with powers to designate firework control zones, which ban the use of fireworks in local areas, and these were used for the first time this year in areas across Edinburgh over the Bonfire Night period.
“Community organisations are also able to apply to the council for their local area to be made a firework control zone.”
rare and beautiful creatures.
“The scenes across Edinburgh over the last few weeks have been anarchic and troubling.
“The current set of rules on licensing, sales and usage don’t seem to have had the desired effect.
“It’s time to look at whether a ban on noisy and disruptive fireworks is necessary.”
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