Five orangutans, two lowland gorillas, a chimpanzee and primates, fruit bats and birds died on New Year’s Eve. They were caught in the conflagration that raged in the monkey house in the Krefeld Zoo in northwestern Germany.
The fire was triggered by sky lanterns that were supposed to bring good luck. The authorities are investigating a mother (60) and her two adult daughters. The three women from Krefeld reported themselves to the police and stated there that they had five sky lanterns risen on New Year’s Eve, police and prosecutor officials said on Thursday at a press conference. It is assumed that these sky lights triggered the fire in the monkey house. The police confirmed various media: the handwriting on the remains of a lantern found near the monkey house could be attributed to the suspects. The women would make a very responsible impression, said chief detective chief Gerd Hoppmann. They ordered the lanterns on the Internet and believed that it was allowed to let them rise.
Sky lanterns are prohibited
Sky or wish lanterns consist of thin tissue paper and a candle or a container with fuel paste in the middle. If ignited, they can float through the air like a hot air balloon. The lanterns have been banned in Germany since 2009.
Fire service in the Krefeld Zoo. Video: AP
Several suspects reported to the police on Wednesday. They feared that they had started the fire because they let the lanterns go up. The women are being investigated for negligent arson. It has up to five years in prison. In addition, they may have to pay the million dollar damage at the zoo.
The directly adjacent gorilla enclosure was spared. A young family of seven gorillas lives there. Two chimpanzees survived the fire moloch. These are the older female Bally and the young male Limbo. The Krefeld Zoo has over 400,000 visitors a year.
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