Wildlife park issues 'urgent' plea for help after Storm Darragh 'causes carnage'
A West Country wildlife park has issued an urgent plea for help, after Storm Darragh tore down at least 20 of its trees and damaged enclosures.
Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park was forced to close on Saturday 7 December and Sunday 8 December.
The north Devon park has now issued a plea for volunteers after assessing damage at the site.
"Storm Darragh has caused carnage here at the park bringing down numerous large trees that took down power lines and caused significant damage to some of our enclosures, handrails and footpaths," a spokesperson said.
"We currently estimate we have at least 20 trees down including some of our largest, oldest trees. Anyone who is physically capable of dragging a branch and is available anytime from tomorrow please get in touch.
"We would be grateful for any help from an hour to a day this week. The sooner we get the carnage cleared, the sooner we are able to fix the enclosures.
"Thanks to the incredible efforts of our dedicated keepers, all animals in the affected area were safely evacuated. This included the Penguins, Oscar the Pelican, Lemurs, Wallabies and Emus.
"We are grateful to report that no animals were injured. If anyone has a drone and is able to film footage of the extent of the damage caused by the storm for us; it would be really useful.
"The damage will take many weeks to repair."
Louisa Bartlett, head keeper at the wildlife park, said she had to give up her day off to come and look after the animals.
"When the team came in in the morning, first of all, there was no power to the park at all", she said.
"Then when the team started to go around, head checking the animals, we noticed two trees had gone gone straight down through the wallaby enclosure. They head counted all of the animals, they were all on site. And then we had to basically put on emergency plans to relocate the animals in this area and get them into temporary accommodation elsewhere in the park."
In total, nine wallabies, two emus, two black and white ruffed lemurs, four penguins and a great white pelican called Oscar have been moved to temporary homes on the site. All the animals are injured - though one wallaby had got out of it's enclosure but was recaptured within the site.
"My team has done a fantastic job," Louisa said.
"We were up here all through Saturday, before lunchtime, catching up all of the wallabies in what's left of the enclosure and relocating them. For anyone that has ever caught up a wallaby, it's not the easiest of things - they're incredibly feisty and very quick. But my team are absolutely incredible, and they are very dedicated to the animals that we have on site.
Louisa added that they used a "range of different nets", trees and people "as barriers" to flush each wallaby out one at a time.
Staff at the site were also assisted by more than 25 volunteers, who have been helping to clear fallen trees and broken fences - and the park is appealing for anyone who is able to help to get involved in the coming days.
Extent of the damage at the park: