Animals killed in fire at Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center in Madeira Beach

Multiple animals passed away in a fire at the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center at the popular John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk in Madeira Beach on Thursday early morning.

A post on the center’s Facebook page Thursday early morning said “nearly all the animals are gone.”

“We are devastated,” the post said.

The post did not state the number of animals were killed in the blaze.

The fire at the center at 12973 Village Blvd. was reported prior to 3 a.m., according to Spectrum Bay News 9, Tampa Bay Times’ news partner.

Sonny Flynn, 58, the center’s owner, said she hurried over after getting a call about the fire prior to 4 a.m.

She wasn’t enabled into the building till after 9:30 a.m.. In the meantime, she waited outdoors with tears in her eyes while the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office forensics system completed surveying the scene.

“This is my life’s work,” she said. “They were all my babies. All of them. I just tried to give them the best life.”

The wildlife center housed more than 250 animals consisting of lizards, little mammals, amphibians, turtles and tortoises, fresh and saltwater marine life, and alligators, according to the facility’s website.

All of the alligators, crocodiles, turtles and tortoises endured, consisting of Rudolf, a 31-year-old tortoise who was the shelter’s very first rescue. But the majority of the lizards and mammals died in the fire, Flynn said.

Flynn doesn’t presume arson and said detectives never ever discussed the possibility to her.

“I don’t know who would want to hurt animals,” Flynn said.

The rescue center triggered debate in 2019 with its “sloth yoga” classes. Flynn said there hasn’t been a sloth in the building considering that January.

Josette Anderson viewed from the street on Thursday early morning as the center’s workers brought turtles, birds and little alligators out onto the 2nd flooring veranda. She waved to her child, Chandler, who works for the center.

“I just got here just for support,” she said. “Just to give her a hug.”

Anderson said fire rescue did their finest to save the animals, even offering CPR to a pig. The animal, like the majority of the center’s mammals, didn’t endure.

“She was just filled with smoke,” Anderson said.

Flynn was most anxious about the skunks, squirrels, chinchillas and rats protected at the center.

“We have pet masks on the truck to provide oxygen to dogs and cats but this was just one of those rare circumstances with the animals involved that there wasn’t much we could do for them,” Madeira Beach Fire Chief Clint Belk informed Bay News 9.

Flynn said she doesn’t understand where to house survivors of the fire. When Hurricane Ian approached in September in 2015, Flynn brought 52 animals from the center home.

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She had actually already spoken with the Gator Boys, an alligator rescue sanctuary in Everglades Holiday Park, who have actually provided to take in a few of the center’s alligators.

Robin Gomez, Madeira Beach city supervisor, said neighborhood assistance has actually already begun to gather. Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce established a donation site for the shelter.

“We’ll do whatever we need to do to get this up and running as quickly as we can,” Gomez said.

Gomez said a minimum of 3 other businesses were harmed in the fire.

Tina Sullivan owns 2 businesses on either side of the rescue shelter: Beach Bites & Burgers and Beach Fun & Games Arcade. She doesn’t understand when she will have the ability to resume.

“I can’t even think straight,” she said. “I’m trying to hold it together.”

Belk informed Bay News 9 that damage is anticipated to surpass $1 million which water and smoke harmed close-by businesses.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office is examining the reason for the fire, Belk said.

The animals at the center stemmed from locations such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, wildlife saves and owners who might no longer take care of their animals, according to the website.

“Our immediate goal is the provision of humane, professional care for pet surrenders and orphaned native wildlife that cannot be safely returned to the wild,” the center said in its objective declaration.

This is an establishing newspaper article that will be upgraded.