(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — A small fire Monday night at Bloomington's Miller Park Zoo has led to the euthanasia of a 20-foot python.
The zoo announced the death of the 11-year-old reticulated python named Nani, saying that, despite being rescued, the snake inhaled so much smoke that her chances of a full recovery were poor. They decided to humanely euthanize her.
"This is never an easy decision for people who have dedicated their lives to providing daily care for these animals. It was made even more difficult due the heroic efforts of all involved in assisting the animals during the crisis," the zoo said in a statement.
According to the Miller Park Zoo, Nalli was longest reticulated python in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
The zoo's director, Jay Pratte, said a security guard spotted smoke coming from the Katthoefer Building, which houses big cats, primates, other mammals and reptiles.
Pratte said zoo workers and firefighters teamed up to get all of the animals to safety.
“Just to be able to safely move her and contain her on any given day — let alone during an emergency — does require a significant amount of people, which is why that one was kind of a bigger deal,” Pratte said.
Firefighters and zoo workers spread themselves out in order to pick up the python and carry it to safety.
“The fire rescue team jumped in and assisted our animal care team in getting that animal out of its enclosure and then … we were able to move her into another holding space,” he said.
Pratte said veterinarians continue to check animals that were rescued, but he said none of the animals appeared to be hurt.
He said the small, but very smoky fire was caused by a faulty heating unit in the python enclosure.
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