DEAD ANIMALS BEING CARRIED OUT OF THE AIRCRAFT, ANIMALS BEING TAKEN AWAY BY TRUCK, INTERIORS OF AIRCRAFT, ZEBRAS IN COOPED UP CONDITIONS, FIREMEN CLEANING EXTERIOR OF AIRCRAFT, AIRCRAFT BEING RE-FUELLED.




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Background: ITALY'S HEALTH MINISTER HAS REJECTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEATHS OF MORE THAN 20 ZEBRAS AND ANTELOPES HELD FOR NEARLY A WEEK ON A BRITISH CARGO AIRCRAFT AT ROME'S FIUMICINO AIRPORT. ELEVEN ZEBRAS AND 13 ANTELOPES, SURVIVORS OF A CARGO OF 49 WHICH ARRIVED FROM SOUTH AFRICAN BOUND FOR ITALIAN ZOOS, WERE EXPECTED TO BEGIN FLIGHT TO BAHRAIN(WHERE THEY ARE TO BE GIVEN SANCTUARY) EARLY TODAY AFTER BEING REFUSED ENTRY BY HEALTH INSPECTORS, AS SOME VITAL PAPERS TO MAKE THERE ENTRY LEGITIMATE WERE MISSING. HOWEVER, EXPERTS SAID THEY FEARED MANY OF THE ANIMALS LIGHT NOT SURVIVE THE RETURN FLIGHT. MEANWHILE LAST NIGHT THE BODIES OF SOME OF THOSE WHICH HAVE DIED WERE REMOVED FROM THE AIRCRAFT, AND SUBS???NTLY THE PLANE WAS CLEANED AND THE ANIMALS WERE FED AND RE-FUELLING BEGAN.