Firefighters called to Edinburgh Zoo to free rhino trapped in tyre

Qabid had to be freed by firefighters
PA
Olivia Tobin3 December 2018

Firefighters have been called to Edinburgh Zoo in to free a male rhino that had been trapped inside of a tyre for more than an hour.

The emergency service had to use cutting gear to free the large animal, Qabid, whose head and leg had become trapped inside of the tyre.

Firefighters from Sighthill attended at around 5.45pm on Sunday and used specialised cutting equipment to free the stricken animal.

According to a zookeeper, the fire service were called out of desperation, after attempts to free the rhino had not been working for more than an hour.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: "Crews from sighthill fire station attended and freed the rhino using e-hydraulic cutting equipment.

"The male juvenile rhino had been trapped with his leg and neck stuck in the tyre since 4pm.

"After the tyre was removed the rhino was left in the care of zookeepers and vets.

"One zookeeper said the fire service were their last hope since the zoo had been trying to free the rhino since 4pm."

The rhino was not injured.

Additional reporting by Press Association

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