ANIMAL PARK FIRE
Big cats, monkeys die in Mtahleb park inferno
A number of exotic animals were killed in a fire that razed part of the Mtahleb animal park to the ground early yesterday morning. A leopard, an emu and a number of monkeys are confirmed to have perished in the blaze.
The animal park hosts a number of exotic species, including lions, tigers, bears lemurs and several species of birds. According to reports the bears saved themselves when they moved into a pond inside their enclosure.
Several units of the Civil Protection Department rushed to the site at the crack of dawn. They were accompanied by members from the Animal Welfare Department.
There were stories of heroism, with reports that firefighters rushed into the burning complex to save lion cubs as well as a dog and her puppies.
Animal Welfare Directorate director Noel Montebello said firefighters focused on putting out the blaze while AWD officers rushed to save the animals.
He said that, in spite of the difficulty of the operation because of the huge blaze, the fact that most of the animals were saved could be considered a success.
The owner of the park, Chris Borg (top left), and his family was yesterday being treated for shock. He has been developing the animal park for the past ten years, only to see it go up in smoke.
The Malta Independent understands that the damage caused by the fire could run into millions of euro. The entire park has been destroyed, including the adjacent family home.
The exact cause of the fire is not yet known but pictures showed a number of gas cylinders that had exploded. It is unclear whether these started the fire or whether they exploded after coming in contact with the flames. It is understood that the flames spread quickly because many of the enclosures were made out of wood. Sources said that while the owner was working to extinguish the flames, fire erupted on the other side of the complex.
A magisterial inquiry is underway. It is being led by Magistrate Marseann Farrugia.
Meanwhile, arrangements were being made to accommodate the animals. The owner of a similar park in Siggiewi yesterday offered to take in a couple of lions. But finding adequate accommodation for the rest of the animals will not be an easy task.
Parliamentary Secretary Clint Camilleri, who visited the site, said the government was offering its assistance for the transfer of the saved animals.
Pictures emerged during the day showing young lion cubs being given a drink of water after they were rescued from the fires.
There were mixed reactions on the social media, with many expressing solidarity with the Borg family while others said animal parks should be banned in this day and age.
Popular presenter and animal activist Moira Delia said in a Facebook post: “It’s a sad day! This place shouldn’t even be allowed to exist here! If it was any place for humans there would have to be sprinklers, fire alarms etc, but we think it’s easy just to simply open a ‘zoo’.”