Looters steal rare animals from zoo destroyed by Hurricane Irma

St Maarten, Caribbean Island: A number of animals, come of them endangered species, were reportedly stolen from a popular zoo in the Caribbean after it was ravaged by Hurricane Irma earlier this month.

Officials at St Maarten Zoo confirmed that at least six of their much-loved animals had been swiped following the storm.

The stolen animals include five pythons and a rare blue macaw.

They are currently fighting to rehome and protect hundreds of other animals at the site, which was home to at least 300, reported the Metro.

Several animals were killed during the Hurricane, including a salamander called Big Lizard – who died from shock.

A toucan and a rare rabbit were eaten by a caiman crocodile after their cages were broken by winds of up to 225mph.

Dozens of other animals are still missing, officials added.

Locals on the Caribbean island have been rushing to protect the animals that have so far been located in the wreckage.

At least 100 have so far been taken into foster car, MailOnline reports.

Local Marlon Kwidema, 45, has fostered a number of the displaced animals.

‘It was the only place you could take your children, apart from the beach. It had the largest playground on St Maarten.

‘We used to visit it regularly. It didn’t have any lions or tigers but it had lots of interesting animals that the children loved.’

Melanie Choisy, 27, the secretary of the zoo board, said due to the scale of the damage, restoring the zoo will be ‘impossible’.