Misha the aardvark dies in blaze at London tourist attraction and four meerkats are missing, presumed dead

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

London zoo has reopened after several animals died in a fire.



The zoo confirmed that an aardvark died in the blaze and four meerkats who remain unaccounted for were also presumed dead.

An initial postmortem of nine-year-old Misha the aardvark showed she most likely died from smoke inhalation while sleeping.

The fire broke out at about 6am on Saturday in the Animal Adventure section of the zoo, destroying the cafe, shop and about half of the adjacent petting zoo, London fire brigade said.

The zoo was closed for the day, leaving families who had tickets for the Meet Santa experience unable to attend. On Twitter the zoo told visitors who had booked for Santa’s grotto that they would be offered a refund.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Misha the aardvark feeding in her enclosure at London Zoo. Photograph: HO/AFP/Getty Images

Dominic Jermey, the director general for the Zoological Society of London, said: “We are absolutely devastated that Misha has passed away. We had our vet team on site immediately but sadly there was nothing that they could do for Misha.”

Keepers who live on site were on the scene immediately after the fire broke out and started moving animals to safety. Some staff were treated for smoke inhalation and shock at the scene, and one firefighter was taken to hospital as a precaution after suffering a minor wrist injury.

More than 70 firefighters attended the incident, which was brought under control by 9.16am.

David George, a London fire brigade station manager, said it was not known what caused the fire. He said: “Our specialist fire investigation teams will be searching through the debris and seeing if they can establish a likely cause for the fire.”