Zoo Miracle: Baby Goats Born as 2 Animals Die During Tornado

Summerfield Zoo in Belvidere, in Boone County, damaged by strong storms

Two animals at the Summerfield Zoo in Belvidere, Illinois, were killed in Thursday's severe weather, just as two "miracle" baby goats were birthed, zoo officials said. 

Officials at the facility said that while an emu and a black swan were killed during the storm, two healthy baby goats were also born.

"We have a small barn we keep all of our bottle fed baby goats and there was disaster all the way around it," said Summerfield Zoo Owner Rick Anderson. "Their building just stood in the middle of it."

Roughly 200 other animals at the zoo, including a mother swan who sat on a nest of eggs during the severe weather, were uninjured, the zoo said. 

The facility lost hundreds of yards of fencing and three barn shelters and suffered about $200,000 in damages. 

"We are heart broken at the devastation," read a late night Facebook message.

The organization said insurance will help cover some of the damage to buildings but not the cost to repair or replace fencing or outside structures.

"We had buildings that were completely gone, they are not on the property anymore," said Anderson. "They just disappeared."

An account on the fundraising site GoFundMe.com was created on behalf of the zoo, which was set to open for the season later this month.

As of 2 p.m. Friday, supporters of the zoo had donated more than $46,000. 

"I do believe miracles and just the fact that we've had so many people come out and help us has been a big one," said volunteer Christopher Foster.

Anderson said he hopes to stil open the zoo April 25, despite the damage. 

"We won't have things perfect but we'll work on it," he said. 

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