Mogo Zoo reopens to the public two months after staff saved the animals from raging bushfire

Australia’s beloved Mogo Zoo opens its doors to the public after brave staff stayed to fight off a raging bushfire and protect the animals trapped inside

• Mogo Wildlife Park reopens, two months after being surrounded by bushfires
• All 200 animals escaped New Year’s Eve bushfire, including a week-old lion cub
• Popular NSW south coast tourist attraction reopened to the public on Sunday 

By Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 04:54 GMT, 1 March 2020 | Updated: 04:54 GMT, 1 March 2020

Mogo Zoo has reopened its doors to the public just two months after a raging bushfire threatened to burn it to the ground.

An ‘apocalyptic’ blaze crossed the Princes Highway on the New South Wales south coast and surrounded the wildlife park on New Year’s Eve, putting 200 animals in danger.

Park director Chad Staples and 15 staff put their own lives on the line as they battled for hours to defend the zoo by dousing the grounds with hundreds of thousands of litres of water as the inferno approached. 

Mogo Zoo director Chad Staples (holding Phoenix the lion cub) celebrates the park’s reopening with local MP Andrew Constance (second left) NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian (seocnd right) and NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons (far right)

The zoo and its 200 animals were in grave danger from bushfires on New Year’s Eve

Thanks to the desperate efforts of zoo staff, all animals escaped the blaze unscathed.

The youngest survivor was a seven-day-old lion cub who has since been named Phoenix to symbolise the extraordinary recovery the zoo has made since.

An official reopening ceremony for dignitaries was held on Saturday before locals and tourists flocked to the Sunday’s free reopening to the public.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons were among those in attendance on Saturday, where Phoenix the lion cub lapped up all the attention.

A special plaque was unveiled on Saturday to coincide with the park’s reopening

Mogo Wildlife Park two days after the bushfire. All 200 animals escaped the fire unscathed

‘To see the zoo now not only save its most precious animals, being the largest private zoo in the nation, it also preserved and represented the wonderful spirit of this community,’ Ms Berejiklian said.

‘Today we are able to recount a story of absolute resilience, survive and hope for the future … we’re so deeply grateful.’ 

Mr Staples took over the management of Mogo two months prior and had no hesitation in his decision to put his life on the line to defend the zoo and save the animals.

‘People have said ever since New Year’s Eve, ‘What made you make the decision to stay?’ There was never a decision – it had to be this,’ he told the ABC.

He thanked the community for their overwhelming support in recent weeks.

‘It’s not the size of the gift, it’s the spirit it’s given from, and this community is amazing. There’s no one here that held back, everyone gave everything they possibly could to make sure we’d be able to get back to this day,’ Mr Staples said.

Chad Staples (pictured with Channel Nine’s Lauren Phillips) urges locals and tourists to support Mogo Wildlife Park and other businesses affected by the recent bushfires

Zoo staff risked their own lives to save the animals from the raging bushfires that hit Mogo

Tourists are urged visit the zoo and other bushfire-impacted businesses on the NSW south coast.

‘We want people right across NSW, right across Australia, right across the world to come and visit NSW, visit all those fire-affected areas of NSW including the south coast, they want you to visit,’ Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.

‘What I can guarantee you is there will be plenty of smiles and there’ll be a warm handshake to welcome you to their town and serve you and support you on your visit to these areas.’

‘We are open to the public again from 9am today and we CAN’T WAIT to see you all again,’ the tourist atrraction posted on Sunday

 

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