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Ranchers Shoot Hearst Castle Zebras

One rancher's turning them into rugs

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 13, 2011 3:06 AM CST

(Newser) – Hasty California ranchers shot dead three Hearst Castle zebras who strayed onto their property, and neighbors are aghast. The zebras—a buck, a mare and yearling—were part of a herd that roams castle grounds, the remnants of what was at one time the largest private zoo in the world, owned by the late publishing magnate William Randolf Hearst. Two of the zebras were "spooking my horses," said rancher David Fiscalini, who blasted the animals with a shotgun, then called a taxidermist to skin one of the zebras for a rug.

“It breaks my heart to see it killed, because it’s wanton waste,” said the taxidermist's wife. “It’s very sad that it wasn’t handled in a different manner." Hearst's great-grandson Stephen said he was shocked by the shootings. The zebras wander from "time to time, but neighbors give us a call and we retrieve them," he told the Los Angeles Times.

What dangers lurk for zebras in the grounds beyond Hearst Castle?
What dangers lurk for zebras in the grounds beyond Hearst Castle?   (?burlap)
Three zebras from a herd at Hearst Castle were shot dead by two ranchers when they strayed from the property.
Three zebras from a herd at Hearst Castle were shot dead by two ranchers when they strayed from the property.   (AP Photo/Michael Probst)
A tower of Hearst Castle.
A tower of Hearst Castle.   (?brunkfordbraun)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 13 comments
francis210
Jan 13, 2011 12:35 PM CST
Does he get away with it? Where are the ethics of the taxidermist?
Ultraworld
Jan 13, 2011 9:47 AM CST
That same shotgun can also scare those Zebra off for a long time. What an idiot.
TJ L
Jan 13, 2011 8:07 AM CST
California must have some dumb ass rule that if an animal lands on your property you not only can kill it, you can have it skinned. Hope this idiot chokes on his Zebra rug.
US

 
California • William Randolph Hearst • zebras • Hearst Castle • ranchers

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