Safari Madrid bison grazed as wildfire closed in

Safari Madrid's bison kept grazing and most of its 2,000 animals remained calm as a wildfire burned near the wildlife park west of Madrid, according to park veterinarian Christian Cabrera, before the site reopened after six days of closure.

Cabrera said only the giraffes became stressed and had difficulty eating. At the height of the blaze, fire was visible on nearby hills, and most of the 26 keepers on site were evacuated, leaving four behind.

The wildfire scorched 77,000 hectares in the Madrid region and neighbouring Avila province. Cabrera said the biggest animals could not be evacuated quickly, with lions, tigers, elephants and rhinoceroses kept in shelters while deer, camels and monkeys remained in large outdoor enclosures.

Visitors returned after the park reopened on Wednesday morning. Firefighters also worked to protect nearby homes and a campsite close to the park, where resident Susana Barrul said her plot escaped the flames after firebreaks were dug near the zoo.