A devastating fire at a mini-zoo in Buntingford, Hertfordshire, has killed all animals except a single baby tortoise. The blaze occurred at The Jungle Box, a facility located in the Watermill Industrial Estate that operates alongside a soft play centre.
Fire Destroys Mini-Zoo
Ten fire crews were dispatched to tackle the inferno in the early hours of Wednesday. Initially, it was reported that every animal inside had perished. However, Hertfordshire Fire Service discovered a baby tortoise alive while battling the flames. Sadly, all other animals, including snakes, tortoises, owls, fish, and meerkats, died in the fire.
Investigation Underway
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by Hertfordshire Fire Service. A spokesperson for East Herts District Council revealed that The Jungle Box did not possess a licence to operate a mini-zoo. The council stated, "We had recently been made aware that The Jungle Box were keeping animals on site. We had written to them at the beginning of June to inform them of the need to apply for a licence. At this stage we have not received a response from them."
Official Response
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Darren Cook praised the crews for their professionalism, saying, "I'd like to thank all crews for their professionalism and hard work and fire control colleagues for their calm and efficient handling of the calls." The Jungle Box has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.
