‘Devastated’: Safari park fire kills giraffes, antelopes and pigs

‘The loss of the wildlife that we care for every day is tragic for our team members who love these animals’

At least 10 animals have died in a barn fire at a safari park in Ohio.

Three giraffes, three red river hogs, three bongos and a springbok housed in the barn at the African Safari Wildlife Park in Port Clinton are thought to be dead, fire officials said.

Springboks and bongos are types of antelope.

Officials also captured a loose zebra and a giraffe that escaped, The Toledo Blade reported.

The cause of the fire, which began shortly after 6pm on Thursday, is under investigation.

No humans were injured.

The only person on the property at the time of the blaze was a member of staff who lived on the grounds, serving as a manager and gamekeeper, Danbury Township police Officer Carolyn Demore said.

Park co-owner Holly Hunt told news outlets that the manager noticed his power flickering and saw the fire when he walked outside.

The African Safari Wildlife Park said it was "devastated by the loss of animals”.

The park wrote in a Facebook post: "We are grateful that our staff is safe and no one was injured, but the loss of the wildlife that we care for every day is tragic for our team members who love these animals.

“We are still assessing the loss of wildlife that was housed in the barn for overnight care and security."

The park was closed to visitors on Thursday for Thanksgiving and was supposed to reopen Friday before closing for the season on Sunday. The park will now be shut on Friday.

The park is a drive-through wildlife park in which visitors can watch and feed animals on the 100-acre property.

According to its Facebook page, it celebrated its 50th season in 2018.

Port Clinton is on Lake Erie in northern Ohio, between Toledo and Cleveland.

Additional reporting by Associated Press