Families in shock after watching buffalo gore zebra to death at safari park

Families watched on in horror as a zebra was gored to death by a Congo buffalo at a UK safari park.

Parents say the female zebra was impaled by the animal during a fight over hay.

Bosses at the West Midland Safari Park described the death as "a freak accident".

Congo buffalo use their huge horns for fighting and protection and are highly dangerous to other animals.

Devastated staff who tried to save the zebra are being offered support.

A source at the park near Bewdley, Worcs, told the Sun: “Keepers were feeding the animals at the same time.

"A fight broke out and the cattle got its horn under the zebra.

Earlier this month, a family of four were rescued from the water after their boat capsized on a river rapid ride at the popular theme park - three years after a schoolgirl died in a similar accident.

It is understood a gran, a mum and two children were injured when a rubber boat flipped over on the Wild River Rafting attraction.

Emergency crews dashed to the location at 2.30pm after the family plunged into the water.

Eyewitness Georgia Hodgkiss, 22, watched in horror as the boat capsized as she waited in the queue for the ride.

She said: "I couldn't quite believe what was going on.

"I heard a loud noise like a screech almost and I turned and couldn't really tell at first what was going on and then I saw these girls coming out from underneath absolutely

drenched looking quite confused.

"It looked as though it was a mother, a grandmother and two children.

"The staff then realised what had happened and got everyone out of the queue and closed the ride.

"I saw who I presume to be the dad go running up the queue to the girls and ladies that were now stood at the start of the ride.

"No one helped them out they did it themselves, there was one girl who looked in quite a lot of pain.

"They were all crying and hugging each other. I can't imagine how they must have been feeling.

"It took about ten minutes for the first aiders and anyone who looked official to come to the ride and then I was leaving the park at 3.15pm I passed the ambulance as they were coming in."

West Midland Safari Park has been contacted by the Mirror for comment.