Thirty-five zoo animals freeze to death in Mexico's coldest weather for 60 years

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Cold snap: Fourteen parrots, 13 serpents, five iguanas, two crocodiles and a capuchin monkey froze to death at a zoo in Chihuahua, northern Mexico


Thirty-five animals at a zoo in the northern Mexico state of Chihuahua have frozen to death during the region's coldest weather in six decades.

Temperatures that have so far killed seven people plunged to -13c as freak Arctic weather conditions gripped the usually-warm country over the last few days.

Zoo animals would usually be protected from any icy chills by powerful heating equipment in their enclosures.

But power cuts shut down electricity at the Serengeti Zoo forcing the animals to suffer in the freezing temperatures.

It is understood that 14 parrots, 13 serpents, five iguanas, two crocodiles and a capuchin monkey died during the cold snap.

Serengeti Zoo owner Alberto Hernandez said on Saturday that power failures cut off electrical heating at the zoo in the town of Aldama.


Temperatures have dropped to -13c in the area as the coldest weather in 60 years sweeps through northern Mexico.


Power outages have affected large parts of the country, forcing factories and businesses to close.

Dozens of people are in shelters. Schools have been closed in Chihuahua state but are expected to open on Tuesday as the weather warms.

source: dailymail