Perilous
Times
35 zoo animals freeze to death in northern Mexico
The Associated Press
Saturday, February 5, 2011; 6:22 PM
CIUDAD JUAREZ, 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.
Serengeti Zoo owner Alberto Hernandez says 14 parrots, 13
serpents, five iguanas, two crocodiles and a capuchin monkey died.
He said Saturday that power failures cut off electrical heating at
the zoo in the town of Aldama.
Temperatures have dropped to 9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 13
Celsius) in the area, the coldest weather in 60 years.
Power outages have affected much of northern Mexico, forcing
factories and businesses to close. Dozens of people are in
shelters. Schools have been closed in Chihuahua state but are
expected to open Tuesday as the weather warms.