There have bee calls for stronger laws on owning exotic animals, after a zebra was pictured in a pub in Co. Clare went viral.
A photo was shared online of a man drinking beside a zebra and a pony following the Ennistymon Horse Fair.
Current laws allow for exotic animals to be imported and sold freely here.
Irish charity My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue has called for immediate action after images of a a man drinking a beer while holding onto a zebra and a little pony were revealed, while the second picture shows the same individual outside with the zebra on a leash as a child reaches for it with their hand.
The pictures, shared by My Lovely Horse Animal Rescue, immediately went viral on social media, where hundreds expressed outrage.
The charity's Martina Kenny told The Irish Independent what was done in this instance “is not okay” and more should be done to ensure the safety of the animals and the fairgoers.
Ms Kenny has reported what happened to the gardaí who informed her the man owns the zebra legally.
She added “It’s dangerous what he did, he brought a pony and a zebra into a pub, from a busy fair, kids were there. What if something happened? Kids could have got kicked. It’s not a very big pub.
“It’s not right. And if we allow things like this, it will just continue on then.”
🤬🤬🤬🤬 POOR ZEBRA 🤬🤬🤬
WE CALLED ENNISTYMON An Garda Síochána station yesterday.
Co. ClareWe ask that you the public call this station too, we should all be demanding that this person (they know who he is and that he resides in Limerick) is prosecuted under the Animal… pic.twitter.com/0058qE45ZY
— My Lovely Horse Rescue (@MyLovelyHorseR) April 1, 2025
