Zebras apparently pack more of a punch- or bite- than you may expect. It isn’t every day that our first responders get a crazy story to tell but the Pickaway County, Ohio deputies have a doozie of a story after dealing with a man-eating Zebra.
The Deputies were forced to kill a zebra after it mauled a man’s arm. The animal nearly ripped the man’s arm off his body.
A man was hospitalized after a zebra attacked him and bit his arm in Ohio, before a deputy shot and killed the animalhttps://t.co/dZT4JXoHtE
— CNN (@CNN) March 14, 2023
Law enforcement responded to a 911 call of a zebra attack in Circleville, Ohio. During the call, a 72-year-old man, Ronald Clifton, said he was attacked by a zebra. He then requested that a rescue squad be sent as soon as possible.
The dispatcher, like most of us, was shocked by the man’s claims. The dispatcher had him repeat his claim, which Clifton did. He was attacked by a zebra.
“I think he tore my arm off…send a chopper,” Clifton is heard saying.
The dispatcher asks if the animal bit his arm, and Clifton responds with, “Oh hell yes.”
Deputies found Clifton laying on the ground when they arrived.
🚨BREAKING NEWS… 🚔🚑🚒 72-year-old OHIO man attacked by🦓ZEBRA. Appears zebra may have BITTEN OFF MAN’S ARM. 🚁Airlifted from scene. Happened about 5:30pm near Circleville in Pickaway Co.👂LISTEN👇🏻👇🏻 Zebra was shot & killed. DEVELOPING… #BreakingNews #ZebraAttack #Zebra #Ohio pic.twitter.com/ZlXtbxxJc3
— Steve Norris (@SteveNorrisTV) March 13, 2023
The police report states that one deputy tried to position his cruiser between Clifton and the zebras. Apparently, this did not go well as the report explains that a large male zebra charged the driver-side door of the cruiser and acted “very hostile.”
After using the cruiser siren and air horn, the deputy was able to get the zebra to back off. At this time officers were able to reach Clifton, whose arm was clearly bleeding below the elbow.
Clifton received medical care before being escorted to an ambulance.
Zebra attacks man and charges at police in Ohio before being shot, authorities say https://t.co/osCPo8PZ0G
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 14, 2023
A third deputy kept an eye on the zebra. He reported that one of the workers on the property told him to put the zebra down if necessary.
Clifton’s family members on scene told the deputy to not turn his back toward the zebra. They made it clear the Zebra would attack if given the opportunity.
The zebra, moments later, is seen on body camera footage heading aggressively toward the deputy. The deputy can be heard yelling at the animal to scare it away. However, the zebra did not back down and the deputy was forced to euthanize the animal.
The report noted that the male zebra was aggressive because he was acting protective of the females in the herd. The man-eating Zebra was the only male.
Clifton was taken to the hospital where he was treated for his injuries.
