Turtle rises from the ashes of fire

Natureland Zoo's Lynn Cameron with Phoenix the turtle. Photo / Natureland

A small turtle has been named Phoenix after surviving an inferno in a Nelson aquarium which claimed the lives of her shark, stingray and eel companions.

About 300 animals died when Touch the Sea Aquarium caught on fire on Thursday morning. It was one of three fires in Mapua, 31km west of Nelson, believed to be the work of an arsonist.

The fire caused total destruction in the building and was so intense it boiled water in some tanks and caused the glass to burst, fire investigator Lewis Jones said.

Aquarium owner Murray Goss said the turtle was named Phoenix after she survived the fire which killed everything else in the building, including her partner.

The red-eared slider turtle survived because she stayed in the water and her enclosure was made of cement.

Her partner, who did not have a name, crawled out of the water and was burned to death. The pair had lived at the aquarium for about six years.

Phoenix has since been taken to Nelson's Natureland Zoo where she was doing well, Natureland educator Roger Waddell said.

"She's pretty resilient. Whenever we bring any creature in they have to go through a rescue pattern or assessment, but she doesn't seem to be damaged," he said.

Police are investigating the three fires.