Photo credit: Ivan Cujic
by Arline L. Bronzaft, Ph.D., Board of Directors, GrowNYC, Co-founder, The Quiet Coalition, and Honorary Chair, Quiet American Skies
In New York City, around the Fourth of July, many residents complain about illegal fireworks in their neighborhoods, despite existing laws that deem these fireworks illegal. The residents in these communities would readily understand how much a 3-month-old panda in an Edinburgh zoo was stressed out after being exposed to noise from fireworks.
They would be extremely disturbed to learn that this young panda died after being exposed to nearby fireworks, set off to recognize the failed plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament back in 1605. We learn in this NBC News article that the panda’s mother, who died a few days earlier, may have also been a victim of the loud fireworks.
As a result of the pandas’ death, more than a million people signed a petition calling for stricter rules regarding fireworks sales. This petition was delivered to the home of Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Edinburgh City Council has already limited sales of fireworks in some areas around the time of this celebration.
Ben Supple, speaking for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, acknowledged that fireworks should be allowed for official events. However, he feels that sales to the larger public should be banned. In the United States, groups that speak out against fireworks in their local communities understand that fireworks should be allowed for official events.
This article is another example of how human-made noises harm other species, as well as humans. I know I will write similar articles in the future.
