Australia fires – Stranded giraffes surrounded by flames as zookeepers race to save hundreds of wild animals
AN AUSTRALIAN zoo owner is being hailed a hero after relocating dozens of helpless animals into the safety of his own home, as a blazing inferno approached.
Chad Staples, the director of Mogo Zoo, described fire conditions as “apocalyptic” as he and his team battled to protect the hundreds of animals on site.
Mr Staples said: “It was like Armageddon, it was black as midnight with tinges of red.”
With an out of control blaze threatening nearby regional towns, emergency services were unable to provide any assistance as the fire approached the park.
So Mr Staples took matters into his own hands.
Dozens of small species such as monkeys and red pandas were moved to Mr Staples’ home.
The larger animals like lions, tigers and gorillas were place in night dens with food and water where they were “safe and calm”.
Mr Staples said: “There were calls for evacuation of the town at about 6.00am this morning, but the zoo's plan was always to defend the site as we can make it safe here for the animals.”
“And thanks to the amazing team that just loves these animals like they're family, we were able to do so. It was amazing.”
Located on the NSW South Coast, Mogo Zoo is home to "the largest collection of primates in Australia" as well as giraffes, lions, tigers, southern white rhinos, red pandas and snow leopards.
The team of 15 zookeepers continually watered the ground and put out spot fires, while making sure to keep the animals calm.
Not a single one of the 200 animals in the zoo was injured, but as Mr Staples warned, there is a very real risk of the fire returning.
He said: “It was hell. You can still see the flames just across from us.”
It comes as the death toll from the fires continues to climb with a third volunteer firefighter, 28-year-old Samuel McPaul, killed while battling a fire in Green Valley.
It's believed that the 10-tonne fire truck the father-to-be was inside rolled after being hit by "fire tornado".
A further two firefighters also suffered burns, according to New South Wales Rural Fire Service.
A father Robert Salway and his 29-year-old son Patrick were also killed while trying to defend their home as the blaze destroyed the historic NSW village of Cobargo.
Four people remain missing; with thirteen emergency warnings are currently in place across Victoria and New South Wales.
4,000 people have been trapped on a beach in far eastern Victoria after getting surrounded by raging flames, as smoke from deadly wildfires turned skies blood-red in other parts of south-east Australia.
Despite severe concerns over the bushfire threats, huge crowds continued to gather to watch a multi-million dollar New Years Even fireworks display in Sydney.
The spectacle went ahead, undeterred by a petition to cancel the event which was signed by hundreds of thousands - instead wanting the money to be spent fighting fires.
Sydney mayor Clover More responded to calls to cancel the event, saying planning for the fireworks began 15 months ago and most of the budget had already been allocated.
Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison also insisted the display would go ahead, saying he wanted to show "how optimistic and positive" Australia was in the face of the tragedy.
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