RAPID CITY, S.D. — A fire at Reptile Gardens was put out before it reached any public area Friday morning but it unfortunately claimed the lives of several animals.
A number of tortoises and alligators died as a result of the fire at the off exhibit animal holding building located behind the giant tortoise yard at Reptile Gardens.
Terry Phillip, Curator at Reptile Gardens, said half of the building involved in the fire housed the African and Red Footed Tortoises and the other half housed American Alligators.
“These animals have educated, enchanted and entertained generations of our visitors. Sadly, all of these animals were lost in the devastating fire. As you can imagine, the love and the life that our staff pour into the welfare and the care of these magnificent animals knows no bounds. We are absolutely crushed,” Phillip said.
The gentle giants and community favorites at Reptile Gardens, the giant tortoises, were not injured.
“Our gentle giants Orville, Tank, Samson, and their younger cousins, Kenny, Peabody, and Hugo, they’re all housed in other buildings, and they’re happily showing us just how to go slow for a day, how to appreciate the good in our lives and remember those that we have lost,” Phillip said.
The Rockerville Volunteer Fire Department was paged to the Reptile Gardens fire at 12:40 a.m. Friday morning.
Almost a dozen agencies responded to the incident.
“It has been amazing and so uplifting to see the outpouring of love from not just our wonderful community, but around the country and across the globe. The heartbreak we have experienced is tragic, the love support and hundreds of offers of help and encouragement are what make this such a beautiful world,” Phillip said.
Reptile Gardens opened in 1937 and moved to its current location six miles south of Rapid City in 1965.
Today, Reptile Gardens is one of the largest reptile zoos in the world, housing more species of reptiles that any other zoo or wild animal park.
Reptile Gardens was closed Friday due to the fire and will reopen as soon as possible.
Jerry Steinley has lived in the Black Hills most of his life and calls Rapid City home. He received a degree in Journalism with a minor in Political Science from Metropolitan State University in Denver in 1994.
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