Chester Zoo Fire in the Chester Zoo Monsoon Forest habitat

Just heard on news that Chester zoo being evacuated as huge fire breaks out.

 

Moonsoon rainforest building it looks like on reports

Looks like the whole roof has gone.

 

Looks as though it is quite bad and looks more towards the orangutan side of the building

 

Post on zoo's Facebook page says staff are working to move animals away.

 

Hopefully everything will be ok!

 

Fire breaks out at Chester Zoo
News report on the on going situation it includes some photos of the fire I thought people should see. There’s no new information at the moment.

 

BBC News app are reporting the North West Ambulance were called an hour ago as a precaution but no patients required attention, which is good news - at this point it seems there are at least no human injuries.

 

Eye-witness report from neighbour at 1309 that no flames now visible (though there may, of course, still be flames within the building). Fingers crossed.

 

Images of the fire at Damage to Monsoon Forest at Chester Zoo after fire

 

Statement from Cheshire Fire & Rescue from Twitter “Latest from Chester Zoo fire. The zoo has been evacuated and all animals are accounted for. There are no reports of any injuries at this time. Drivers are advised to avoid the area. There are currently 15 fire appliances in attendance at the scene." Time 14.17 hr.

 

Official update from the zoo indicates all Monsoon Forest's mammals are accounted for at this time and they are working to account for other species: Chester Zoo | Zoo news | Monsoon forest statement

 

I wonder where all the displaced animals will be kept whilst this is sorted.

 

The website says all MAMMALS are accounted for presumably meaning species such as the gharial are yet to be counted. It worries me that they might of not been able to save the gharial, I just can’t see how they could get them out with there size and weight.

 

So that’s just the Orangs, gibbons and macaques.

 

Plus, presumably, anything being held off show - there were Ring-tailed Lemurs around the back of the building recently, for example.

 

Is there any birds in that section ?, Surely if the roof was on fire they would just fly off out ?
Any venomous reptiles in that section as well, surely they would be hard to move ?

 

Are there not free flying birds at the Monsoon exhibit. I'm sure I saw past (though recent) media of Rhinoceros Hornbills there.? Presumably they hopefully got the Mugger Crocs out as theres aquariums there too.?

 

I doubt they would be easy to move !

 

Surviving animals are likely to have to be relocated urgently this afternoon, as well, as they're not going to be able to heat the main space of the building.

 

I certainly hope everyone (of all species) is ok. Concerned about free flying birds especially. Great attention will be paid to the roofing material. As the roof is ETFE (as used at the Eden Project) it ought not to have burned like that.