A fire at Ho Ho Zoo near Telford broke out at about 07:45 BST on Monday, sending two owners to hospital as a precaution and closing the 32-acre site for the day. The zoo said the fire is now out, and Monday ticket holders will be contacted to rearrange their visit.
Will Dorrell and Hoo Zoo
Will Dorrell said the fire started in one of the zoo's office areas and that the cause was not yet known. He said the office was next to the main entrance, shop and cafe, and added: "We're very, very lucky," after describing how close the flames came to the rest of the attraction.
He also said: "the office itself is located right next to our main entrance and our shop and our cafe - probably if the fire had started half an hour earlier than what it actually did it would've probably engulfed those as well." The only damage he described was to office equipment and documents.
Hoo Zoo near Telford
The zoo said no zoo animals were harmed, but several privately owned animals died in the blaze, including a snake, a hedgehog and several stick insects. Two of the owners have since been discharged after being treated for smoke inhalation.
The site remained closed on Monday while staff monitored animals across the 32-acre site to make sure they stayed safe and well. For visitors booked that day, the practical step was a rebooking message rather than a replacement opening date.
Telford in Shropshire
Hoo Zoo is near Telford in Shropshire, and it had previously become widely known in 2024 after the escape of a capybara called Cinammon. On Monday, the immediate question for anyone planning to visit was not what happened to the building, but when access would resume and whether the office area could be restored without further disruption.
