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Krefeld (dpa / lnw) - One year after the devastating fire in the monkey house of the Krefeld Zoo, the memorial for the accident is almost ready.
"When visitors are allowed to come back to the zoo after the Corona period, the memorial should be ready," said zoo spokeswoman Petra Schwinn.
The aim is to remember the 55 animals that died in the fire, including eight great apes.
The place of remembrance is to be built near the site of the fire, which has now been completely removed.
The focus is on the two and a half meter high sculpture of a monkey.
The fire on New Year's Eve caused great sadness among visitors and animal lovers.
Candles, toy animals and flowers were placed in front of the zoo for many months.
The stone sculpture intended for the memorial site originally stood at the entrance to the monkey house and survived the fire intact.
The place of remembrance is to be supplemented by benches and a tree.
Shortly after the fire, the zoo decided that the monkey keeping should continue.
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The fire started in the back of the traditional zoo.
The trigger was a sky lantern that set the roof of the monkey house on fire.
There, crowd favorite Massa, an impressive 48-year-old senior gorilla, died with several other animals and other great apes.
The fire was caused by three women who have since received penalties for negligent arson.
The procedures are complete.
Two chimpanzees survived the fire, 47-year-old Bally and Limbo, a 27-year-old male.
"Our two child prodigies," the zoo speaker called the animals.
You would have recovered very well.
But it is also clear that both chimpanzees cannot stay in the zoo permanently.
A new, species-appropriate home is being sought for the animals.