NSW Bushfires: Mogo Zoo prepares for HELLISH conditions on Saturday

Zookeepers at Mogo Wildlife are preparing for a day of horror conditions due to 46C temperatures and gusty winds as they try to defend the 200 animals inside.

The zoo’s animal enclosures were threatened by the 31,000-hectare fire burning to the north around the town of Batemans Bay on New South Wales’ south coast on  New Year’s Eve.    

Ahead of Saturday’s treacherous 46C conditions the zoo’s owner – Chad Staples – and his colleagues are desperately trying to source everything they need in order to be prepared.

‘We are watering and extinguishing everything ahead of Saturday when it gets hot again and the wind comes back,’ Mr Staples told Nine.

Zookeepers at Mogo Wildlife are preparing for a day of horror conditions due to 46C temperatures and gusty winds as they try to defend the 200 animals inside

Australia's famous Mogo Zoo was directly in the line of fire as a 31,000-hectare blaze threatened the renowned tourist attraction

Australia’s famous Mogo Zoo was directly in the line of fire as a 31,000-hectare blaze threatened the renowned tourist attraction

The zoo's animal enclosures were threatened by the 31,000-hectare fire burning to the north around the town of Batemans Bay on New South Wales' south coast on New Year's Eve

The zoo’s animal enclosures were threatened by the 31,000-hectare fire burning to the north around the town of Batemans Bay on New South Wales’ south coast on New Year’s Eve

He said it could get ‘serious’ on Saturday and they are trying to keep things as normal as possible for the animals until then.

Mr Staples and his crew stayed overnight to care for the animals and put out spot fires.

He said they are ‘running on fumes’ but have been extremely supported by the local community.  

‘I have been contacted by so many people in the zoo industry, zoo owners and directors, personally who have felt helpless knowing there is nothing they can do,’ he said.

Some of his staff have been sent home ahead of Saturday’s horrific conditions.

‘I need to look after them too. They are just heroes and I’m so impressed by my team,’ he said.

A spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia a plan has been put in place for the zoo to deal with the fires on Saturday.

Mr Staples and his crew stayed overnight to care for the animals and put out spot fires

Mr Staples and his crew stayed overnight to care for the animals and put out spot fires

A spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia a plan has been put in place for the zoo to deal with the fires on Saturday

A spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia a plan has been put in place for the zoo to deal with the fires on Saturday

The woman said currently communication directly to the zoo is difficult due to communication towers being down.   

‘Mr Staples has been liaising with contacts in the community and the government in order to source supplies that are desperately needed,’ she said. 

‘He is attempting to get a power generator and Coles has offered food supplies for the animals, which are expected to be delivered tomorrow.’

She said a lot of the undergrowth was burnt during the fires and so the zoo doesn’t expect they will have to evacuate.

The woman said it will most likely be a case of defending the zoo’s perimeters. 

A spokeswoman for the zoo said a lot of the undergrowth was burnt during the fires and so the zoo doesn't expect they will have to evacuate. The woman said it will most likely be a case of defending the zoo's perimeters

A spokeswoman for the zoo said a lot of the undergrowth was burnt during the fires and so the zoo doesn’t expect they will have to evacuate. The woman said it will most likely be a case of defending the zoo’s perimeters

A group of 15 zookeepers armed with hoses and sprinklers were able to protect the animals as the worst of the firestorm swept through on Tuesday afternoon

A group of 15 zookeepers armed with hoses and sprinklers were able to protect the animals as the worst of the firestorm swept through on Tuesday afternoon

The sprawling Mogo Zoo is home to about 200 animals and the largest collection of primates in Australia – as well as giraffes, lions, tigers, southern white rhinos and red pandas. 

A group of 15 zookeepers armed with hoses and sprinklers were able to protect the animals as the worst of the firestorm swept through on Tuesday afternoon.    

Mogo Wildlife Park director Mr Staples confirmed ‘every single animal’ had been saved, but said the risk of the fire returning remained a very real possibility. 

Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Agata Imielska explained to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday how conditions will be similar to Tuesday – with extremely hot temperatures followed by powerful gusts. 

‘Yesterday temperatures peaked before a southerly came through,’ she said. ‘Saturday will be the next big day to look out for.’ 

The mercury will start to rise on Friday when  ‘large areas’ of the state will have temperatures of more than 40C and these hot conditions will carry over to Saturday.

A southerly is expected to come through during the late afternoon and the strong winds expected will pose issues for firefighters.

‘The dry and strong winds will make the blazes burning across the state flare and drive them in a new direction,’ the forecaster said.

She said the winds will also cause embers to move further and pose a significant issue for people facing the flames and people need to be wary.

Despite the cooler conditions parts of the state – including the north west of the Great Dividing Range, are still ‘quite warm’.

Hazardous smoke conditions are also expected following the southerly change but the impact will depend on which part of the state you are in.

The sprawling Mogo Zoo has the largest collection of primates in Australia, as well as giraffes (pictured at the zoo), lions, tigers, Southern White Rhinos and red pandas

The sprawling Mogo Zoo has the largest collection of primates in Australia, as well as giraffes (pictured at the zoo), lions, tigers, Southern White Rhinos and red pandas

AUSTRALIA’S BUSHFIRE CRISIS AT A GLANCE

 NEW SOUTH WALES:

– 15 lives lost, four in the past 48 hours

– One person remains missing

– More than 110 bushfires burning

– 3.6 million hectares burned, greater than the size of Belgium

– 1,298 homes confirmed destroyed 

VICTORIA:

– One person dead, 17 more missing 

– About 50 bushfires burning

– More than 766,000 hectares burned

– 68 structures confirmed destroyed but this number is expected to rise significantly

TASMANIA

– More than 30 bushfires burning, seven of significance

– 8000 hectares burned

– One home confirmed destroyed

 SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

– One person dead

– About 20 bushfires burning, three of significance

– More than 60,000 hectares burned

– 88 homes confirmed destroyed

QUEENSLAND: 

– About 30 bushfires burning

– 250,000 hectares burned

– 45 homes confirmed destroyed

WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 

– More than 30 bushfires burning, two of significance

– 1.2 million hectares burned

– One home confirmed destroyed

 

 

 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk