Authorities say an injured zebra had to be euthanized after a McLean County sheriff’s deputy pulled over a semitrailer truck pulling a trailer of animals this week.
The traffic stop happened around 5 p.m. Sunday on eastbound Interstate 74 near Downs, authorities said. In addition to the injured zebra, there were six cows, one sheep, and about 130 goats inside the trailer. Authorities called in McLean County Animal Control and the director of the Miller Park Zoo to assist.
The 44-year-old driver, from Pennsylvania, was arrested on preliminary charges of drug possession and cruel treatment to animals, plus a traffic citation.
The animals were taken to the McLean County Fairgrounds, where on Monday local veterinarians and the Illinois Department of Agriculture state inspector evaluated them.
“Upon examination it was determined that humane euthanasia was the best outcome for the zebra, and the zebra was euthanized,” the sheriff’s department and Animal Control said in a statement released Thursday. “Additional welfare examinations were conducted on the remaining animals. It was determined all remaining animals could continue traveling to their destination.”
The driver, who was issued a notice to appear in court and released, took the remaining animals to a resting station before continuing to his next destination, authorities said.
