Five Sisters Zoo Park Five Sisters news 2012-2013

What a dramatic event ! Wish the owners and keepers all the stength they need in those days !

 

awful news as said already, I hope the springhaas wasn't affected by the blaze

 

Very upsetting news. On a personal level, because I'm visiting in a few weeks and was looking forward to seeing the new developments, and on a general level, because I've seen that Five Sisters has grafted so hard over the last ten or so years to continually develop, improve and establish themselves on limited resources/cash/visitors whilst in the shadow of far more showy collections (and done a good job of it).

Here's hoping they can use their obvious skills and enthusiasm to bounce back from this disaster in due course.

 

Accordig to their Facebook page, they have lost thei male otter and all but two of the meerkats, as well as many reptiles and birds.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Five-Sisters-Zoo/199305660100059?fref=ts

They have set up a page where you can donate to a fire fund:

http://www.fivesisterszoo.co.uk/the-zoo/prices/five-sisters-zoo-fire-fund.html

 

I'm so gutted by this news, they've worked so hard.

Each time they post on their facebook page it is just getting sadder and sadder.

As well as the occupants in the reptile house they have lost their male otter and all, but two of their meerkats. Devastating.

*** Their last two postings

Fire at Five Sisters Zoo
The tragic fire which broke out in the early hours of Sunday 14th April has devastated us all at the zoo. We have lost so many of our beautiful and precious animals, reptiles and fish, and the pain and hurt we all feel is too bad to put into words. We are however extremely touched and humbled by the many donations and kind offers of help that we are receiving. At the moment we cannot reply to everyone but we want you all to know what this means to us that so many people, both friends and strangers have taken the time to be so kind and for sending their support.
Brian & Shirley Curran

A huge thank you to everyone for your kind words today, especially for the loss of our beloved male otter and all but two of our meerkats.

 

*Edit. Apologies for duplicating info from previous posts, my internet froze while I was trying to post at the same time as the previous.

Indeed any collections worst nightmare

From what I am told at present the entirety of the reptile house collection perished; snakes, monitors, spiders, sugar gliders, fruit bats etc. I know the Spring Hare was in there last year but don't know if it still was before the fire. Also a male otter and most of the meerkats, being in the path of the smoke, perished from smoke inhalation. The female otter is being cared for by vets and keepers, as are two meerkats. Conflicting stories say some of the meerkats are missing, possibly out through a tunnel, but people close to the zoo said tonight that all but two died. Miraculously two dwarf crocodiles were saved as they were deep in their pool.

As our nearest 'neighbour' collection we offered our sympathies and available space as temporary accommodation should it be needed.

If anyone wishes to help, a fundraising facility has been set up for donations;

Five Sisters Zoo Fire Fund | Five Sisters Zoo | Get up close and personal at West Calder's premier wildlife attraction | A Gallery of Some of Our Animals

 

I'm seriously not trying to be controversial or insensitive here, and maybe I'm naive of how things work in the "zoo world", but I'm curious -shouldn't insurance cover rebuilding, restocking and consequential loss?

 

Possibly but I know isurance can take a while to pay out. Also, people were asking for some way they could help the zoo.

 

There is talk on the facebook page that a snake or snakes were not in the reptile house at the time because of the work so have survived.

I think at the moment no-one is 100% sure of anything really though.

I think part of the fundraising is because people are thinking about it being the last day of the school holidays up here so it would probably have been busy. Insurance won't cover loss of takings I wouldn't have thought? That could be problematic depending on how long they are closed for. Raised funds could also help with immediate costs of anything that needs to be done quickly to secure exhibits/rehome animals whilst needed etc.

 

This is truly tragic and my sympathies go out to the keepers and owners, must be heartbreaking and I hope all animals that are saved go on to survive despite their injuries.

 

I know I'm not the one to post on the European news thread but I thought I'd share yet another article of the fire: Five Sisters Zoo Fire In Scotland Kills Reptiles, Insects And An Otter

My question is why wasn't there a sprinkler system in the building?

~Thylo

 

Graham has posted a video collage of pictures of many of the animals, fish and reptiles who perished

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151427603939482

A tragic loss for all at the Zoo.

For those who were asking, it looks like the Springhaas was amongst them.

 

It does look like ornate monitor and springhaas are some of the animals that died
R.I.P to all the animals that have died

 

Amen.

I wonder what the zoo will do now to move on from this tragedy...

~Thylo

 

It is certainly going to be very hard for them obviously, a fire in a zoo is one of the worst things that can happen in any zoo, but I think it is much harder for a small collection like this to pick up the pieces.

The last UK zoo fire I can remember was the tragic Giraffe House fire where I think two or three Giraffes died. But any loss of animal-life in a fire is truly awful, whether that is a giraffe or an Iguana.

 

Five Sister are opening over the weekend, entry will be free but with the chance to donate to the fire fund:

Open weekend -

 

Visited Five Sisters on Saturday. Will upload photos soon.

 

2 albino skunks born