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Hailstorm Brings 'Massive Loss' for Colorado Zoo

Endangered vulture among 2 animals killed
By Arden Dier,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 8, 2018 8:00 AM CDT
Hailstorm Brings 'Massive Loss' for Colorado Zoo
Crews clean up the debris from Monday's hailstorm as damaged cars sit in the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo parking lot in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Tuesday.   (Christian Murdock/The Gazette via AP)

Hail the size of golf balls and softballs pummeled a Colorado zoo on Monday, leaving 14 people injured and two animals dead, including one of roughly 20 endangered vultures known to be in the US. The 13-year-old female Cape vulture, dubbed Motswari, arrived at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs from South Africa as part of a breeding program. "It's a massive loss," a conservationist tells the Washington Post, noting Motswari was in her breeding prime and the species has declined by up to 94% in three generations. A Muscovy duck was also killed, while five people were sent to the hospital, per CNN. The zoo tells CBS News that up to 400 vehicles were damaged. (More hail stories.)

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