Buchanan County Sheriff investigates death of captive zebra, fourth reportedly shot in past year

Alex Ivanisevic
The Des Moines Register

An Oelwein man said his zebra was shot and killed last weekend, making it his fourth zebra to be killed in the past year. 

Mike Henninger, owner of Hevans Safari, can be seen here with one of his zebras in late November, still recovering after being shot in the right leg in October.

The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office said in a release that it received a report at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Dec. 9 of a captive zebra that had possibly been shot at 1948 100th St., southeast of Oelwein.

Deputies responded to the scene and reportedly found a dead zebra at the rural Hevans Safari. As part of the investigation, the release said, deputies took possession of the animal carcass and transported it to Iowa State University for examination.

The owner of Hevans Safari, Mike Henninger, said the zebra was the fourth to be shot and killed at his property — along with one horse — since October 2017.

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Henninger said he started with seven zebras in 2017 and has reported threats he's received in recent years to Buchanan County authorities.

According to Henninger, the individual he believes is responsible for the threats and for killing his animals "posts about and shows everybody" a video of him shooting a stuffed zebra and supposedly grilling meat.

Henninger, however, has been luckier than some of his animals. He survived being shot in his right leg in late October when he was behind his home. 

"I was airlifted to Iowa City," he said. "I spent my birthday in the ICU." 

Henninger asked that anyone with information about the shootings come forward and help investigators.