PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WDNews) — Officials with ZooWorld Panama City Beach confirmed six ruffed lemurs died from smoke inhalation following an electrical fire inside the animals’ night house.
ZooWorld identified the lemurs as Pluto, Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune and Mercury. Zoo leadership said the animals were part of a close-knit troop and were deeply loved by staff and visitors.
In a statement, the zoo’s director said the loss has been devastating for the entire zoo family. The director emphasized that animal care and maintenance teams followed all safety protocols and that the fire was not caused by human error. Emergency responders from the community were also praised for their quick response.
“This was a disaster, and it is beyond sad,” the director said. “We feel every bit of that to our bones but will honor our lemurs and this park by pushing forward and rebuilding.”
The zoo announced it will reopen to the public Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, during normal business hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Officials said the temporary closure has allowed staff time to process the loss and begin healing.
Crews are continuing repairs to the damaged structure and habitat to ensure the area is safe and accessible before reopening.
