Zoo counts its losses after exotic birds killed by golf ball-sized hailstones

A violent hailstorm that dropped ice pellets the size of golf balls has killed eight exotic birds at a zoo in Texas. The storm left five flamingos, a pelican, an ibis and a black-necked swan chick dead, a spokeswoman for the Fort Worth Zoo said. All of them were outside when the storm struck on Thursday morning. Several other flamingos and ducks were treated for injures.

We did have a few birds injured, they are over in our hospital. We do have an animal hospital on premises. Some of them were just a little stunned, probably had gotten hit by hailstones

Zoo spokeswoman Alexis Wilson

The hailstones also left gaping holes in the canopy of the zoo’s carousel and smashed dozens of skylights and windows across the complex. Electricity to thousands of residents in the Dallas area of Texas cut out as the storm took hold. Dozens of vehicles were left badly damaged, including several Arlington Police Department patrol cars.

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