A SOUTH Lakeland zoo was turned into an aquarium last week after Storm Desmond left its outdoor animal enclosures several feet under water.

Lakeland Wildlife Oasis, at Hale, near Milnthorpe, had to move several of their animals to safety after heavy rain inundated the site and has this week finally started to drain away.

“We’re located right at the point where all the water drains out so it’s been at least knee-deep since last Saturday,” said assistant manager Jayne Gibbins.

“Luckily most of the animals can either climb or fly so they do have access to dry areas.

“But others were struggling so we’ve had to move them inside.”

Creatures that have been moved to safety away from the deluge include large rodents known as Azara’s agouti, and monals – a bird from the pheasant family.

Staff have been working doubly hard to keep the animals safe, wading through knee-high water to get to them all at feeding time.

The floods meant that the zoo was forced to close its doors to the public for more than a week, leaving them hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

“We’ve had no money coming in from visitors and we don’t get funds from anywhere else,” said Jayne.

“We can’t take any bookings, any school trips – we’ve had to turn everything away.

“On Wednesday alone we had to cancel a booking of 10 adults and 42 children at £5 a head.”

Jayne has launched an online fundraising appeal for money to help staff build elevated pathways and ensure the zoo’s free ranging animals have more access to dry land in case of future flooding.

It is expected to cost around £5,000.

She said: “Although most of the affected animals can climb or fly we need to provide safe passageways for our terrestrial free ranging animals, so that they have more space and can access important areas, such as their nesting and feeding sites.

“If we manage to come in under the £5,000 budget all other funds will be put towards animal care costs.”

The appeal had raised nearly £2,500 when the Gazette went to press.

One well wisher wrote: “Hope you recover soon, from a local mum who has spent many happy hours there with her children.”

To donate go to https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/jayneestelle-gibbins.