Zeeberry sculpture suffers second attack in a week in Watts Park

Zeeberry, a vivid strawberry red zebra designed by Deven Burke has been taken away for repairs after it was damaged for the second time in a week.

A passer-by found the zebra laying on its side on the ground this morning having been pushed off of its plinth by vandals.

The attack happened between 6.30pm yesterday and 7am this morning and it is the fourth time one of the sculptures have been damaged.

A day after the trail opened on July 16 the sculpture Chris Cross in Above Bar Street was ripped off its feet, pushed over and beaten, according to the artist who designed it.

Another was damaged in Western Esplanade as vandals tried to tear off its shark fin.

Then last week Zeeberry was found with a damage hoof and needed to be taken away for repairs.

And within days of going back to its spot next to Paul de Monchaux’s 2000 Sculpture Enclosure in Watts Park, it was damaged again.

Kirstie Mathieson, Marwell's Zany Zebras project manager said: “We are really disappointed that we’ve had to temporarily take Zeeberry off the trail – he is one of the most popular Marwell’s Zany Zebras sculptures.

“So much hard work gone into creating this project from the team at Marwell Wildlife to all of the artists who have spent hundreds of hours creating these fabulous masterpieces. To see some mindless act of vandalism damaging these creatures is heartbreaking. 

"Deven Bhurke, who has created four of our wonderful sculptures, has invested so much time and skill in creating these fantastic pieces of work that to see one of them damaged is really shattering.

“This attack was a deliberate attempt to hurt Zeeberry."

A spokeswoman from Marwell Zoo added it is likely that the sculpture will be moved elsewhere once it returns to the trail.

The zoo has also reported hundreds of scratches on the sculptures caused by people climbing on them or putting their children on them. They have urged people not to get on the zebras.

Now police are appealing for information and calling for anyone who knows anything about the attack to help with their enquiries.

The zoo has also set up its own hotline where people can leave information about any vandalism to the sculptures.

Anyone with any information can call Hampshire Police on 101 quoting crime reference number 44160292026 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

People can also call the zoo’s special hotline on 01962 770503.