STORM-hit West Somerset zoo Tropiquaria reopened at the weekend following its ‘hardest and most physically demanding week’.

Zoo director Chris Moiser said recovering from the severe damage caused by Storm Darragh had been the toughest task he and co-director Jane Bassett had experienced in their 17 years running Tropiquaria.

Volunteers from local communities and businesses turned out to help the zoo after the storm, including former employees and family of staff.

They removed fallen trees and branches, repaired and replaced animal enclosure fencing, and patched up damage to the main buildings - and even received homemade cake from local residents.

Mr Moiser said: “We owe endless thanks to our own ‘Team Trop’, who are all incredible, and to all those who have helped us this week in so many different ways.

“Our staff have been brilliant, as have our volunteers, doing major physical work beyond what could normally be expected, and in particular moving large pieces of timber.”

He said many businesses had helped with donations of materials and the loan of machinery as the zoo remained closed throughout last week.

Mr Moiser said there had not been any animal escapes, and some of the outside cages were evacuated to avoid such incidents if trees continued to fall.

The tapir and tortoise enclosures both suffered major breaches of their fencing, while the wallabies’ paddock was at risk from branches which broke off but were caught in trees before hitting the ground.

Among the businesses which had helped were Viking Construction, Sheasby Tree Services, and Taunton Timber, which reduced the volume of materials the zoo needed to purchase.

Mr Moiser said he was pleased Tropiquaria had now returned to its normal winter opening hours of 10.30 am to 4 pm on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.

However, he warned Tropiquaria still faced ‘huge uncertainty’ with operating costs of almost £1,500 per day on top of the financial impact of carrying out storm repairs.

Mr Moiser said a GoFundMe appeal launched five weeks ago to help Tropiquaria survive the winter had now reached nearly £8,000.

The fund was started after visitor numbers fell substantially during the summer months at the same time as the Government increased the minimum wage and employer National Insurance contributions.

The fund-raising target has now been amended to £15,000 to help the zoo keep going until next year’s tourism season begins.

Mr Moiser said: “Cheers all to the worst week of 2024, let us get back to business as normal.

“We would love to see you now that we are back to our normal opening hours.

“We are so grateful to everybody for the donations and messages of encouragement.

“By donations it is not just the money, but the materials, the time, and labour, and the real surprises like the lovely, freshly baked sponge cake which appeared just before lunch two days ago.”

Mr Moiser said the zoo was also continuing to be impacted by the cost of living crisis, which had seen fuel bills quadruple, and ‘still desperately need your help’.