Advertisement

Chester Zoo keepers rescued six orangutans from deadly fire by luring them with bananas

Keepers at Chester Zoo rescued six Sumatran orangutans, four gibbons and 18 macaques from Saturday’s deadly fire by luring them to safety with bananas.

The animals were housed in the ‘Monsoon Forest’ area of the zoo where the blaze broke out.

As the flames began to tear through the building, keepers used to food to tempt the animals into the open-air part on the enclosure, before locking the doors to prevent them from returning inside.

The zoo’s mammals were all moved to safety and visitors were successfully evacuated, but some of the insects, frogs, fish and small birds were killed in the fire.

Chester Zoo’s chief operating officer Jamie Christon said: “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.”

Fire and rescue services were called to Chester Zoo shortly before 11.30am on Saturday, sending 15 fire engines to the scene and declaring a major incident after teams arrived.

No staff or members of the public were harmed, and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service crews were able to bring the blaze under control.

Firefighters tackle the flames at Chester Zoo. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)
Firefighters tackle the flames at Chester Zoo. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Members of the public donated more than £100,000 online in little more than 24 hours, with the money helping the zoo recover from the fire that destroyed much of the vast roof covering its Monsoon Forest area.

Eyewitnesses described how visitors to the attraction, which is billed as the largest indoor zoo exhibit in the UK, were rushed to safety as flames spread rapidly through the polymer roofing material.

David Clough, 50, who lives across the road from the zoo, said high winds fanned the flames in the roof of the building.

The fire destroyed the roof of one of the zoo’s enclosures. (PA Images)
The fire destroyed the roof of one of the zoo’s enclosures. (PA Images)

He added: “We were very worried for the people and animals that would have been in the building.”

One person was treated for smoke inhalation as a result of the fire, according to North West Ambulance Service.

The cause of the fire is thought to be accidental.