Raging Zebra mauls man in horror attack in Ohio nearly ripping-off his arm as it protected six female zebras nearby before cops arrive and shoot it dead with a 12-gauge shotgun

• ‘I think he tore my arm off – send a chopper,’ Ronald Clifton told 911 operators
• The zebra in question can be seen pacing around the Ohio field aggressively

A zebra was fatally shot by Ohio police on Sunday after it attacked its owner and maimed the man’s right arm, authorities said.

The brutal attack occurred at around 5.30pm in Circleville, with Pickaway County Sheriff’s deputies responding to the incident. It is believed the zebra – which is understood to be owned by Mr Clifton – was acting to protect six female zebras nearby.

‘I think he tore my arm off – send a chopper,’ Ronald Clifton, 72, told 911 operators before responders soon arrived at the property as bodycam footage showed him lying on the ground in agony in a fenced-in field.

In police bodycam footage, the zebra in question can be seen pacing around the field aggressively, some metres from responders.

Following attempts to scare the animal away, one officer aimed a 12-gauge shotgun at its head to kill the zebra – which police said was a necessary action.

In police bodycam footage, the zebra in question can be seen pacing around the field aggressively, some metres from responders

‘I think he tore my arm off – send a chopper,’ Ronald Clifton, 72, told 911 operators before responders soon arrived at the property to find him lying on the floor

In the emergency 911 call placed by Mr Clifton late Sunday afternoon, he told the operator he was attacked by a zebra before the despatcher quizzically responded: ‘You got attacked by a what?’

Mr Clifton pleaded then pleaded with the 911 operator to send emergency help immediately. 

Footage from a police bodycam showed responders providing medical assistance to Mr Clifton as he lies in agony.

With his arm was nearly ripped from his body during the horror attack, a tourniquet was strapped around his bicep as a temporary measure before being rushed to hospital.

The large male zebra continued acting aggressively after officers arrived. The animal charged at a deputy’s cruiser that had been positioned to keep the animal away from the victim, the sheriff’s office said.

One deputy was able to briefly scare it away using their cruiser’s horn and sirens.

It was not clear what caused the zebra’s aggressive behavior, but officials said it may have been trying to protect some female zebras that were in the same field. 

While two responders helped the maimed man to his feet, other officers continued to kept watch on the raging zebra.

The large male zebra continued acting aggressively after officers arrived

But police said the zebra continued to charge at deputies and other first responders and was eventually shot and killed

Maintaining eye contact with the animal, officers yelled at the zebra in an attempt to chase it off

Members of Mr Clifton’s family were also at the scene after the attack. One man tried to scare the animal away with a large stick as another urged officers not to look away.

In the sheriff’s office report, police said one man told them: ‘this Zebra is aggressive and to put the Zebra down if needed.’

Maintaining eye contact with the animal, officers yelled at the zebra in an attempt to chase it off.

But police said the zebra continued to charge at deputies and other first responders and was eventually shot and killed. 

‘I had to make a decision,’ the deputy who opened fire on the animal told ABC6. ‘I put a slug right between its eyes.’

He told the police report he made the decision to shoot as the ‘Zebra didn’t slow down and kept coming at me’. 

The zebra’s owner was hospitalized at Grant Hospital in Columbus. He is expected to recover. No other injuries to humans or animals were reported.

Unlike states such as California, Zebras are not considered exotic animals by the Ohio Department of Agriculture.

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