Officials in Campbellton, N.B., have begun removing more than a dozen exotic animals from Reptile Ocean, a pet store beneath the apartment where two young brothers died after being strangled by an African rock python.

Bruce Dougan, the manager of the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton, N.B., said officials are working out a plan on how to safely remove and put into crates some of the 16 animals for which Reptile Ocean didn’t have permits.

The animals, spread out over three floors in the building, includes six crocodiles, tortoises and four large American alligators.

"The alligators are in a large pit with a large pool. (The enclosure) has limited access to it so it's going to be difficult for us to plan on how to get them out of there safely so nobody gets hurt and the alligators don't get hurt," Dougan, who is helping to remove the animals, told CTV Atlantic.

He said the tortoises will be going to his zoo, while the remainder of the exotic animals will be taken to Indian River Reptile Zoo in Ontario.

Since the deaths of Connor and Noah Barthe on Monday, the story has captured the attention of people across the country, many shocked by how the brothers died.

"My deepest sympathy to the parents and family. No words can take the pain away but may they bring you comfort in these hard times. We are thinking and praying for you," wrote Natalie Roy from St. Paul, Alta., on the boys' online guest book.

The two brothers will be remembered at a funeral service in Campbellton on Saturday.

An obituary for the two boys reads: "Passed away in Campbellton on August 5th, Connor Barthe, age 6 years, 11 months and Noah Barthe, age 4 years, 8 months of Campbellton, sons of Mandy Trecartin and Andrew Barthe."

The service will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church at 4 p.m. local time with visitations scheduled beforehand at Maher's Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to noon, and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Police said the boys died after a 15-foot African rock python escaped its enclosure, slithered through a ventilation system and fell through the ceiling into the living room where the brothers were sleeping while staying at a friend’s home.

The young boys' bodies were found by Jean-Claude Savoie – the building’s owner and the friend’s father -- early Monday morning.

Results from a preliminary autopsy released Wednesday show the boys died of asphyxiation. Investigators are still waiting for other test results to come back, as well as a final report, the New Brunswick RCMP said in a statement.

Meanwhile a makeshift memorial continues to grow across the street from the apartment where the boys died.

Teddy bears and notes of condolences sit at the base of a utility pole near the apartment and store, which has been cordoned off with yellow police tape.

Early Thursday morning, the family of the two brothers were at the memorial site to collect notes and toys left for the boys.

Two provincial conservation officers were seen entering and leaving Reptile Ocean on Wednesday, after a search warrant to search the store was obtained by the province's Natural Resources Department.

A spokesperson for the Natural Resources Department said they didn't know that the African rock python was being kept in the apartment prior to this week's tragedy.

"In fact, we had no knowledge of the existence of this African rock python," said Anne Bull in an email.

She added that it's illegal to keep snakes without a special permit meant for accredited zoos and not private owners.

African rock pythons have been banned in New Brunswick since 1992. Only accredited zoos with a permit are allowed to own the snake specie.

According to the Accredited Zoos and Aquariums, Canada's only nationally-recognized accreditation body in the country, Reptile Ocean never received nor requested accreditation.

Donations can be made to the "Connor and Noah Memorial Trust Fund" at any TD Canada Trust branch.

With files from The Canadian Press