WINDER — A Winder, Georgia zoo is dealing with the loss of several of its animals after the facility caught on fire Monday, April, 4.
The owner of Hand Me Down Zoo, Kerry Ervin, describes the facility as “a sanctuary for exotics and non-releasable state wildlife. Ervin said on social media that the building was engulfed in flames just two hours after it closed on Monday night.
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Ervin said the Barrow Fire Department arrived to the scene quickly but the fire was too intense and they lost many species. The zoo lost most of its reptiles and all of the birds in the building.
The dead animals included basilisk lizards, a highland lynx, iguanas, several species of snakes, tortoises and turtles, sugar gliders, a chinchilla, porcupines, a kookaburra, mice and chicks, just to name a few.
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Channel 2′s Tom Regan was at the zoo Friday, where the animals that did get out alive are being cared for at a field hospital on the property. Firefighters were able to rescue about 50 other animals, including a pair of otters.
Regan spoke to Ervin, who said she is heartbroken.
“I would have given everything to be in there and taken ever last one of them out,” Ervin said. “It’s not just my heartbreak, it’s the heartbreak of everyone who helps and works with us.”
People have been donating essentials to help the rescued animals, including oxygen tanks and a container to help animals with lung injuries heal.
In the post on Facebook, Ervin thanked Barrow Fire Department for their efforts to save the animals.
“It was very impressive seeing these guys picking up porcupines and other less then friendly animals with no concern to their individual safety,” the post said.
The zoo made another post Tuesday evening remembering the many animals they lost.
“Please take a moment of silence to honor their memories and enjoy the time we could share with all of them,” Ervin wrote.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help the zoo rebuild.
Every animal on our property deserves our love and respect regardless of size shape and form. Each are valued and as...
Posted by HAND ME DOWN ZOO on Wednesday, April 6, 2022
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In Facebook post, the owner posted the names of almost every animal lost in the fire:
- Quilbert and Maquilda (prehensile tailed porcupines)
- Devils Daughter (Highland Lynx)
- Happy and Joyce (kookaburra)
- Queen, Blossom, Pepermint, Squeeks, Jack, Pockets, Sweet Pea, Rugrat (sugar gliders)
- Jesus and Mary (basilisk lizards)
- Whisper Snapper and Terp (aquatic turtles)
- Goliath, Ms. Mittins, Goldie and Godzilla (Tegu’s)
- Zeus, Blue, Iggy and Spike (iguanas)
- Lucie and Tater (bearded dragons)
- Ackie, Drago and Mozzarella Pete (monitor lizards)
- Mushu (blue tongue skink)
- Bonnie and Clyde (ball pythons)
- Rosy (red tail boa)
- Snowflake (corn snake)
- Kingsley ( king snake)
- Tex (rat snake)
- Pascal (chameleon)
- Barbi and Bromhilda (tarantulas)
- Vinnie and sting (scorpions)
- Banana (gopher tortoises)
- Boris and Natasha (Russian tortoise)
- Boxter, Crash, Shark Bait, Skip, Turtly, Spunky, Turbo and Speedy (box turtles)
- Puff (chinchilla)
- Indy (Myers’s parrot)
The zoo owner said the main building will be closed for a while, however, they will still be able to travel to schools and outside locations.
For ways to assist Hand Me Down Zoo, the owner said to call the zoo at 706-429-4591.
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