Fire kills "nearly all of the animals" at Florida wildlife center

An early morning fire on Thursday killed nearly all the animals at a wildlife center in Florida, officials said.

CBS affiliate WTSP reported the fire broke out around 2 a.m. local time on Thursday at the Alligator and Wildlife Discovery Center in Madeira Beach, near St. Petersburg on Florida's Gulf Coast.

"We suffered from a tragic fire last night. Nearly all of the animals are gone. We are devastated," a post on the wildlife center's Facebook page said.

Sonny Flynn, who owns the center, told WTSP that all of the mammals inside the building died and many of the reptiles were injured. Small mammals, lizards, amphibians, turtles and tortoises, fresh and saltwater marine life, and alligators were among the 250 animals at the center.

"They didn't deserve this. This is my whole life," Flynn told the station. "They all have names, they all have personality, I come in every morning and talk to them like Dr. Dolittle."

#BREAKING UPDATE: Multiple animals have died and others are hurt after a fire ripped through the Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center and another business in Madeira Beach. https://t.co/dsV0gN7v2c

Flynn said about 95% of the animals at the center were "pet surrenders because people didn't know how to take care of them, or they weren't able to take care of them."

Madeira Beach Fire Department Fire Chief Clint Belk told news outlets that crews were met with heavy fire and smoke at the front of the building.

Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputies said the blaze impacted both the wildlife center and a restaurant, WTSP reported.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause.

Founded in 2011, the center says it has changed its focus to education and conservation, according to its website.

"Our immediate goal is the provision of humane, professional care for pet surrenders and orphaned native wildlife that cannot be safely returned to the wild," the center says.