The team at a popular York attraction have declared themselves ‘absolutely devastated’ after 12 animals died in a fire.
It happened at Piglets Adventure Farm, the family favourite found on Towthorpe Moor Lane.
In a post on Facebook, they said: “We are absolutely devastated to share some incredibly sad news with our friends and visitors.
“In the early hours of Sunday morning, we tragically lost ten of our beloved pet lambs and two of our lovely goats due to smoke inhalation from a small fire.
“As you can imagine, we are all completely devastated and in shock over this terrible loss. We have a very close bond with our animals, so it has been such a difficult and traumatic time for our team.”
Two of the team, Heidi and Ed, stopped the fire spreading and saved the lives of all the other animals in the barn. “If it were not for their quick thinking and calm reaction, the situation could have been so much worse.”
But even Heidi and Ed’s early intervention wasn’t able to save the lambs and goats closest to the fire, and they died of smoke inhalation.
The fire was ignited by the heat lamp that keeps the lambs warm at night.
Piglets will be closed today and tomorrow (18 and 19 March). It plans to reopen on Wednesday, 20 March.
Countless thousands have enjoyed a day out at Piglets since it opened in 2011.
The attraction launches its Easter Egg-Stravaganza on Saturday (23 March). Running till 14 April, it includes an egg hunt, a beach, a tractor trailer ride and lots of adventure play.
Find out more here.
