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Dominic Lipinski/PA Images

Aardvark, meerkats killed in fire at London zoo

It took 72 firefighters to get the blaze under control.

A LARGE FIRE at London Zoo killed an aardvark and four meerkats today, while several staff were treated for smoke inhalation.

The zoo, which attracts 1.2 million visitors a year, was closed following the pre-dawn blaze but said it would reopen again tomorrow.

It took 72 firefighters more than three hours to bring the fire under control, after it broke out in the Animal Adventure cafe and spread quickly to an adjacent shop.

“Sadly our vets have confirmed the death of our nine-year-old aardvark, Misha. There are also four meerkats still unaccounted for, but we are now presuming these have also died,” a statement from the zoo said.

It said keepers living at the zoo in Regent’s Park had responded quickly to the fire, which began shortly after 6.00am, and some staff had required medical attention.

Fire at London Zoo Dominic Lipinski / PA Images Dominic Lipinski / PA Images / PA Images

The London Ambulance Service said it had treated eight patients at the scene, six for smoke inhalation and two for minor injuries.

One of these, a firefighter who suffered a minor wrist injury, was taken to hospital as a precaution, the London Fire Brigade said.

“We have keepers living on site and they, along with our security team, responded incredibly quickly to move animals to safe locations within their enclosures,” the zoo said.

Fire at London Zoo Dominic Lipinski / PA Images Dominic Lipinski / PA Images / PA Images

It added: “All other animals in the vicinity are being monitored closely by our vets, but early signs suggest they have not been affected. We will continue to monitor them over the coming days.

We are all naturally devastated by this, but are immensely grateful to the fire brigade, who reacted quickly to the situation to bring the fire under control.
It’s too soon to speculate on the cause of the fire but we will be working very closely with fire investigators over the coming days and weeks to ascertain the cause.”

The zoo was closed today, but it said that after consultations with fire experts, “we are confident that we can safely open the zoo tomorrow”.

‘Arduous conditions’

The zoo opened in 1828 and is now a leading conservation organisation as well as a major tourist attraction.

According to the Visit Britain tourism agency, it attracted 1.21 million visitors last year, making it the ninth most popular paid-for attraction in the country.

London Fire Brigade officer Clive Robinson said that three-quarters of the cafe and shop, and half the roof, had been damaged by the fire, which also affected a nearby animal petting area.

“When they arrived our crews were faced with a very well-developed fire,” he said.

“They worked incredibly hard in arduous conditions to bring it under control as quickly as possible and to stop it from spreading to neighbouring animal enclosures.”

© AFP 2017

Read: Irish flights among cancellations after plane goes off runway at Bristol Airport

Read: Elderly man dies in North Strand house fire

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    Mute BadDrivingIreland
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    Aug 19th 2013, 2:31 PM

    Greed

    74
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    Mute Neil Burke
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    Aug 19th 2013, 2:34 PM

    I wonder if HMRC cut a deal with Vodafone where they just pay the amount of tax which was reclaimed from Revenue. It’s tantamount to HMRC offering the same tax rates as Ireland. It might explain why the amount was not disclosed.

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    Mute Carcu Sidub
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    Aug 19th 2013, 3:46 PM

    So an “Irish” registered multinational company with a turnover of €380 million a year, with no employees for 5 years, made a settlement with a foreign countries tax authorities, 4 years ago.

    Can somebody please explain how exactly this country is not, or at least not viewed as a tax haven? Because by coming to a settlement shows that tax irregularities were been undertaken, at least 4 and more years ago.

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    Mute Michael G O'Reilly
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    Aug 19th 2013, 5:35 PM

    As they say, never believe anything until it has been officially denied !

    14
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    Mute Ollie Owens
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    Aug 19th 2013, 3:10 PM

    It’s ok I am sure we will give it back to them – if the tax was actually paid here

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    Mute James
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    Aug 19th 2013, 7:45 PM

    Tax haven

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    Mute eric grixy
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    Aug 19th 2013, 3:30 PM

    “Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaabs” roared Rickie Bruton
    THERE WAS AN INTERESTING RULING IN THE HIGH COURT RECENTLY WHERE VODAFONE HAD A COMREG PRICE REDUCTION QUASHED ; to do with the unique something or other in Ireland it has a direct ethos that can be used to quash the bog closures !

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    Mute Partysauras Rex
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    Aug 19th 2013, 4:28 PM

    Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that.

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    Mute eric grixy
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    Aug 19th 2013, 4:42 PM

    it was a case where European law was over ruled because of the uniqueness of the Ireland ; Precedent is everything in law !
    For example in the original bogland act of the 1750 there was a precedent set of turfcutting rights lasting for 61 years ; therefore any compensation package should last a minimum of 61 years ; sorry off topic but vodafone started it by not hiring anyone in a multi–million industry registered in Ireland ; hence the jibe at the government always going around announcing jobs and millions being added to our tax bill to europe as a result of this turnover being registered in Ireland ;
    I’m sick of corruption , are you ?
    now I’m off to the bog like my father and his father and his father etc. Article 1 defends Irish tradition by the way !

    15
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