LIMESTONE, Tenn. — An animal at Brights Zoo, in Limestone, Tennessee, died after choking on the packaging of a squeezable applesauce pouch. The zoo said his name was "Lief" and he was a sitatunga. Lief was born on July 30, 2016, and died on June 8.
The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute said sitatunga usually live around 22 years while in human care.
The zoo said the lids of the packages resemble berries that the animals might eat as food. It said it prohibited pouches like the one that the animal choked to death on for a long time and has implemented bag searches.
"Anytime you lose an animal, it's a tough, tough loss. When you lose an animal because someone felt they were above the rule and it could have been avoided, it's ten times harder," said David Bright, the owner of the zoo.
The zoo said visitors find ways to sneak the packages in, despite the zoo prohibiting them. It also said guests are able to go to their car or the picnic areas in the parking whenever they want and re-enter the zoo later if they need to eat something.
