Fire kills animals at zoo in western Germany

A fire at a zoo in western Germany killed a large number of animals in the early hours of the new year, authorities said.

They did not comment on local media reports that the fire was started by celebratory fireworks.

The Krefeld zoo near the Dutch border said the entire ape house burned down and all the animals inside are dead.

The dpa news agency, quoting officials, said the dead animals included chimpanzees, orangutans and two gorillas, as well as fruit bats and birds.

The zoo said the nearby Gorilla Garden didn't go up in flames, however.

Gorilla Kidogo and his family are alive, the zoo wrote on Facebook early Wednesday.

An unfathomable tragedy hit us shortly after midnight, the zoo said.

Our ape building burned down to the foundation."