Ten animals were killed in a fire at a wildlife park
in the US state of Ohio, the park said in a statement late Friday.
Three giraffes, three red river hogs, and a springbok were among the
dead, the African Wildlife Safari park in Port Clinton said on its
Facebook page.
Three bongos - a type of African forest antelope -
were also killed.
Some 400 other animals at the park were safe, and no people were
harmed in the fire.
It was unclear what caused the fire, which broke out on Thursday
evening on the US Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
A stall housing the 10 animals that died was completely destroyed.
Out of fear that the fire could spread, two giraffes and a zebra were
freed from a nearby barn. The traumatized animals were being treated
by a vet.
Staff are receiving grief counselling, co-owner Holly Hunt said in
the statement.
The park would remain closed and reopen in the new year, the park
said, as a winter break was planned to start on December 2 anyway.
Giraffes at African Safari Wildlife park, Port Clinton. Picture courtesy: The Park's Facebook Page