13 monkeys dies as zoo enclosure hit by fire

Thirteen monkeys have been killed in a fire at a zoo in the south of England.

The blaze broke out in the early hours of Tuesday morning in the Patas monkey house within the African Forest drive-through enclosure of Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire.

A Woburn spokesman said: “Staff and fire crews attended the scene; however, devastatingly for everyone at the park, none of the 13 animals could be saved.”

Firefighters arrived on the scene at 2:37am after the blaze was spotted by security guards on a routine patrol.

Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Officers 0 Woburn Safari Park’s monkey area was damaged found the outbuilding housing Patas monkeys was well alight and its roof had fallen in. They fought the fire using fire hoses while wearing breathing apparatus to protect themselves from smoke and fumes.

“The building was 90 per cent damaged by the fire.”