Animal hunt after zoo fire
STAFF were last night working to account for all species after fire destroyed much of the vast plastic roof covering Chester Zoo’s Monsoon Forest area.
All the mammals, including orangutans and gibbons, have been located but keepers are “working hard” to track down the rest of the animals, according to a statement released by the zoo yesterday.
Eyewitnesses described how visitors to the attraction – billed as the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK – were rushed to safety as the blaze spread rapidly through the polymer roofing material.
Zoo staff led the animals housed in the structure to safety as firefighters rushed to the scene.