Aardvark dies and four meerkats are missing as f ire rips through London Zoo
Desperate keepers smash glass walls in rescue bid
A FEMALE aardvark named Misha has died and four meerkats, all brothers, are missing presumed dead after a devastating fire at London Zoo yesterday.
Several members of staff were treated for shock and smoke inhalation after the blaze ripped through part of t he historic site near Regent’s Park. Distressed keepers are believed to have smashed through the glass walls of enclosures in their desperate efforts to save animals from the flames and a number were in tears as they were comforted by colleagues.
The fire, which began just before dawn in the Animal Adventure area before spreading to a cafe and gift shop, took 70 firefighters more than three hours to bring under control.
The zoo said nine-year-old Misha, who shared a building with the meerkats in the petting and children’s area, was beloved by keepers, who are ‘devastated by her loss’.
She was born at The Royal Burgers’ Zoo in the Netherlands and arrived at London in 2008.
A spokesman said: ‘ She was a great favourite of both zookeepers and visitors alike, both for her impressive digging abilities and friendly and gentle nature.’
The four meerkats, named Robbie, Norman, Billy and Nigel, were brothers, born at the zoo in 2011, and ‘well-loved by everyone for their friendly, curious nature’.
‘The four meerkats are still unaccounted for, but we are now presuming these have also died,’ said the spokesman.
The zoo was due to reopen today as experts continued to investigate the cause of the fire and vets monitored other animals for the effects of smoke. Tourists hoping to visit the attraction yesterday expressed their shock as they were turned away. Hannah Smith, 23, from Wandsworth, South London, said: ‘I couldn’t believe the news. It must have been awful for the staff.
‘I really do hope that the animals are OK and not too traumatised by what happened.’
The zoo spokesman said: ‘We have keepers living on site and they, along with our security team, responded incredibly quickly to move animals to safe locations within their enclosures. The London Fire Brigade were on the scene within minutes and the fire was brought under control by 9.16am.
‘Those staff who were first on the scene have been treated on site for shock and smoke inhalation.’
The zoo added: ‘Sadly, our vets have confirmed the death of our nine- year- old aardvark, Misha. There are also four meerkats unaccounted for at this stage.
‘We are all naturally devastated by this. It’s too soon to speculate on the cause but we will be working very closely with fire investigators over the coming days and weeks to ascertain the cause.’
London Fire Brigade said ten engines and 72 firefighters and officers were called to the fire, which destroyed the adventure cafe and shop and half the petting zoo.
One firefighter was treated in hospital for a minor injury.
The fire prompted condemnation from animal rights organisation PETA, which tweeted: ‘Trapped in cages and unable to follow their instincts and flee, the fire must have been terrifying. A lifetime in captivity is no life at all for wild animals.
‘We are naturally devastated by this’