On its website, the African Safari Wildlife Park tells its visitors to "Get Ready for a Wild Time!" But this past Thanksgiving brought a wild - and devastating - event that no one was prepared for.
That evening, a barn on the Ohio property caught fire, and ten animals were burned alive.After the tragedy, the facility closed for only one day to mourn these animals. Then it was back to business as usual. Sign to demand a better life for the surviving 300 animals.Among the animals who lost their lives were antelope, bush pigs, and three giraffes.
Horrific footage of the fire shows other giraffes galloping frantically, backlit by the blaze,
as members of their herd died in agony. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. The barn, which is said to have housed the animals for their own security and well-being, was a heated structure, and the fire was reported to have begun after a
power flicker at the property.
These animals are not suited for Ohio's temperatures, and if the only way to keep them warm results in a fire that kills them, it is obvious they are in the wrong place. In a statement from the company, the owners and staff express their grief, claiming that they love these animals. If they really love them, they would let them live out their days on a sanctuary instead of existing for entertainment purposes at the park - park that sees an estimated
150,000 visitors a year.
The surviving, traumatized animals must be saved. Demand that the African Safari Wildlife Park close its doors, and send their exotic animals to sanctuaries!