A "beloved" antelope choked to death on the plastic cap of a snack pouch over the weekend, a Tennessee zoo announced.
Lief, a 7-year-old sitatunga antelope, died Saturday, Brights Zoo said on Facebook.
The animal choked on the cap of a squeezable fruit sauce pouch that the zoo said is not allowed on its grounds in Limestone, about 85 miles northeast of Knoxville.
A sitatunga antelope can live up to around 22 years in human care, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Lief “still had a lot of life to live,” Brights Zoo said.
“Some ask why we don’t allow squeezable pouches into the zoo.
Replying to one comment, the zoo said it doesn't believe anyone will take responsibility for Lief's death. »