Zoo staff ‘devastated’ after animals killed in blaze at enclosure

CHESTER Zoo has said it is “devastated” by the loss of some of its animals in yesterday’s fire as supporters helped it smash a fundraising target.

Members of the public had donated over £50,000 online in less than 24 hours after the blaze began on Saturday.

The money will help the zoo recover after the fire destroyed much of the vast roof covering its Monsoon Forest area.

In a statement on the zoo’s website, chief operating officer Jamie Christon said it was one of the “toughest days” in its history.

He said no staff or public were harmed in the inferno, which was brought under control by Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service crews.

Visitors were evacuated and keepers were able to move all the zoo’s mammal species to safety — including critically endangered Sumatran orangutans, Sulawesi macaques, endangered silvery gibbons and birds such as rhinoceros hornbills.

Mr Christon said: “We are,

Firefighters following blaze at Chester Zoo’s Monsoon Forest

though, devastated to say that we were unable to save some of our insects, frogs, fish and small birds who were located near to the outbreak of the fire.

“It’s absolutely heartbreaking to lose any animal, especially when conservationists have worked so hard to breed these wonderful species. New homes have been found within the zoo for all of the animals that were led to safety and our teams are working around the clock to relocate them as soon as possible.”

Zoo staff had been working to account for all species at the attraction after the blaze tore through the plastic material covering the Monsoon Forest enclosure. Orangutans, gibbons, crocodiles,

turtles and exotic birds were among the species housed in the artificial habitat, which is designed to mimic a south-east Asian environment.

The zoo, which reopened yesterday, said it had been inundated with messages from people asking how they could lend their support.

Mr Christon said the cause of the fire was currently unknown and the zoo would be working with the relevant authorities with their investigations.

A spokesman for Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service later said officers had spoken to witnesses and reviewed CCTV footage and were “confident” the cause of the fire was accidental.