Shetland ponies, goats, sheep and a lama were among 26 animals to perish overnight in a fire at the Karlsruhe zoo in south-western Germany.

Karlsruhe police said the elephants and hippos could be saved from their enclosures next to the petting zoo that caught fire and burned down early today.

Some 100 fire fighters fought against strong winds that threatened to spread the flames from wooden structures of the petting zoo to neighbouring buildings.

Authorities have launched an investigation. No cause for the fire has been determined. The zoo is temporarily closed to the public.

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