SOUTHWEST RANCHES, Fla. – A 21-year-old man said he intends to rebuild after a fire destroyed his exotic animal farm in Southwest Ranches.
Blake Kaldirimoglu started Blake's Exotic Animal Ranch in 2004 as a way to teach schoolchildren about conservation.
His life's work went up in flames Tuesday when a fire killed about 300 exotic turtles, tortoises and fish.
"Everything's gone, you guys," Kaldirimoglu said in a cellphone video he recorded as the barn that housed the pets burned. "Everything's gone. I don't have words."
Kaldirimoglu said he believes lightning was to blame.
A GoFundMe page was created to help Kaldirimoglu rebuild the barn and replenish the population.