At least two meerkats and an otter are among the animals that were killed when fire ripped through an enclosure at a zoo in near Edinburgh.
Nine meerkats are missing, feared dead, after the blaze spread through the reptile house of the Five Sisters Zoo in Polbeath, West Lothian in the early hours.
The male otter was in a neighbouring enclosure and was overcome by the effects of the fire nearby. Fire fighters managed to save a female otter in the same enclosure.
The two meerkats had to be put down because of their injuries.
Fire crews also managed to rescue two dwarf west African crocodiles. No people were injured.
The owners, staff and volunteers at the zoo were said to be distraught.
The olive green steel-clad building was scorched and buckled by the heat Lesley Coupar, of marketing and visitor services at the zoo, said: "We are devastated. It's the worst nightmare.
"We're in the business of rescuing animals, giving a safe haven to animals.
"Although the animals are wild, we know them intimately and it's just such a tragedy. The owners are distraught, as are the staff and volunteers."
Described as "fierce", the blaze took 11 fire engines and around 50 firefighters several hours to bring it under control.
The alarm was raised at just before 4am by which time the tropical house was described as "well alight".
The blaze appeared to destroy sections 3, 4 and 6 at the zoo Crews were hampered by high winds and had to use lines of hose to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings.
On Saturday, Ms Coupar had posted a message on the zoo's website saying: "Hey! If you are not busy today, why not come and 'hang' out at the zoo, suns out and so are the animals:)"
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it had been able to rescue some animals during the blaze.
"Firefighters were able to help them rescue two dwarf crocodiles and an otter but sadly some animals have perished in the fierce fire," it said.
"Full details of the animals affected will not be available for some time until it is safe for zoo staff to access affected areas."
Officers described it as a "fierce fire" and a large metal-clad building appeared to have been gutted by the intense heat.
Police said road closures were in place in the immediate vicinity.
The privately-owned zoo was established in 2005 and is some 30 minutes' drive from Edinburgh.
According to the zoo's website, it is "probably one of the few places in the world where you can see at close hand a West African dwarf crocodile".
The non-profit zoo is home to some 130 species of animals, including meerkats, monkeys and assorted reptiles.
The fire service added: "An investigation into the cause of the blaze will now take place."
The attraction is around 30 minutes' drive from Edinburgh Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Zoo Fire: Meerkats and Otter Among Victims
Dengan url
http://yojanganmenyerah.blogspot.com/2013/04/zoo-fire-meerkats-and-otter-among.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Zoo Fire: Meerkats and Otter Among Victims
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Zoo Fire: Meerkats and Otter Among Victims
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar