Five deer die at Dutch petting zoo after someone dumps raw rice in feeder

Five deer died suddenly last week at a deer enclosure in Maasland, a town in the South Holland province of the Netherlands. Investigators determined that someone had thrown uncooked rice into the animals' feeding trough, which is believed to have caused their deaths. Raw rice can expand significantly in an animal's digestive system after consuming water, leading to fatal internal damage. The incident has raised concerns about public access to animal feeding areas and the dangers of visitors introducing unauthorized food. Authorities are investigating who is responsible for discarding the rice. The loss of five animals at once represents a significant blow to the small enclosure. It remains unclear whether the act was intentional or the result of someone not understanding the harm raw rice can cause to animals.