krefeld zoo memorial for animals burnt in fire
Krefeld Zoo - tributes to the animals who lost their lives in the New Year fire. Photo: Krefeld Zoo

Home » Sky Lanterns May Have Caused German Zoo Fire, Killing 30 Animals

Sky Lanterns May Have Caused German Zoo Fire, Killing 30 Animals

New Year revellers sending Chinese lanterns into the sky to celebrate the New Year are suspected to be to blame for the fire at a zoo in Western Germany which killed more than 30 animals. German police say the lanterns may have triggered the fire which killed orangutans, gorillas, a chimpanzee, monkeys, bats and birds […]

By Jenni Baxter
02-01-20 12:47
in Eish!
krefeld zoo memorial for animals burnt in fire
Krefeld Zoo - tributes to the animals who lost their lives in the New Year fire. Photo: Krefeld Zoo

New Year revellers sending Chinese lanterns into the sky to celebrate the New Year are suspected to be to blame for the fire at a zoo in Western Germany which killed more than 30 animals.

krefeld zoo memorial for animals burnt in fire
Krefeld Zoo – tributes to the animals who lost their lives in the New Year fire. Photo: Krefeld Zoo

German police say the lanterns may have triggered the fire which killed orangutans, gorillas, a chimpanzee, monkeys, bats and birds at the Krefeld Zoo which is close to the Dutch border.

According to the local police chief, witnesses say they saw paper lanterns flying near to the zoo shortly after midnight. (The fire was reported to police at 12h38.) And it has been reported that police investigators have found used lanterns on the ground, some bearing handwritten notes.

Chinese lanterns – or sky lanterns – are illegal in Germany.

Krefeld Zoo said in a statement that the fire – “an unbelievable tragedy” – destroyed the monkey house completely… with only two chimpanzees miraculously surviving.

“Like a miracle, the chimpanzees Bally and Limbo survived the devastating fire. They are only slightly injured and are now housed in two boxes in the gorilla garden. They are taken care of by several zoo vets,” said the zoo. The chimps, who were rescued by firefighters, suffered burns but are in a stable condition.

According to the zoo’s director, many of those animals that died are almost extinct in the wild.

The German zoo thanked the public for their “overwhelming wave of compassion and assistance” and “solidarity” on social media channels.

For those who wanted to physically help, the zoo said: “At the moment, active help at the fire site is not possible, as the house is at risk of collapse” plus it is a crime scene so currently off-limits.

The zoo’s director said: “We have to seriously work through the mourning process. This is an unfathomable tragedy.”

The zoo said it is grateful for any donations and that a new monkey house will be built.

The zoo is closed to visitors today, it announced in a post on social media, adding: “Once again we would like to thank everyone for the overwhelming wave of compassion and assistance services that reach us online and offline. Thank you so much.”

German resident Arnulf Diegel, who has relatives in South Africa and frequently holidays in SA, told SAPeople: “The story about our zoo is horrible, and there’s a big discussion now about all this New Year’s mania with fireworks, even if it was Chinese lanterns.

“I visited the place yesterday and it was horrible to see it. On the way I’ve seen all the rubbish people left in the streets from their new year’s party. Kak!”