On New Year's Eve

Panic caused by fireworks: Nandu broke his neck

A flightless female Nandu died on New Year's Eve - and only because of the rocket shooting. The sad photo of the dead bird is a single indictment and puts a face to the firecracker victims.

"They came from all directions, the bird, but also my other animals, such as kangaroos, alpacas or emus, wanted to flee in the greatest panic, but didn't know where to go, as the bright flashes of light came from everywhere," says Franz Maurer, owner of the popular "Franziskus Tiererlebnisbauernhof" farm in Unterlamm in Eastern Styria, sad and shocked.

Partner now stands alone
The animal ran into a wall in panic and broke its neck. The female bird would have been three years old this year and would have bred with her partner for the first time. He is now all alone.

The female nandu broke her neck(Bild: Maurer)

And this is not even the first fatality. Last year, it was a kangaroo that broke its neck in the same way. Maurer: "That's unbelievable. Just because some people recklessly want to have fun, others suffer and even lose their lives. That's not right."

Mayor Robert Hammer agrees. "On New Year's Eve, you would unfortunately have to put a police officer on every corner." The head of the municipality wants to sensitize people even more and create awareness for consideration: "With the sad photo of the dead bird, perhaps that will be more successful ..."