Huge fire causes evacuation of Chester zoo

Around 21,000 animals are kept at the zoo

A massive fire at Chester zoo has prompted an evacuation. It's now closed. Some 21,000 animals are kept on the site and a spokesperson said the fire originated in the monsoon forest habitat, which is home to endangered Sumatran orangutans. https://twitter.com/andyl17/status/1073908161831153665 When the monsoon forest opened in 2015 it was described as "the largest indoor zoo exhibit in UK history." As well as the critically endangered orangutans in the monsoon forest there are snakes, crocodiles and macaque monkeys. https://twitter.com/FYJJoinery/status/1073907346185875456 A spokesperson for Chester zoo said: "We can confirm that the fire brigade is attending a fire in our monsoon forest habitat. "Visitors have been evacuated and asked to leave the zoo as teams work to bring the situation under control. The zoo's animal teams are working to move all animals away from the incident. The zoo also said its response team was working with emergency services to "bring the situation under control."