Animals have been confirmed dead following a fire at Chester Zoo.

The blaze broke out on the roof of the zoo's Monsoon Forrest area yesterday. Visitors were evacuated from the site as emergency services and zoo staff worked to extinguish the fire. Mammal species such as the zoo's critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and Sulawesi macaques were kept away from the fire, but many small birds, frogs, and fish were tragically lost in the blaze. Jamie Christon, Chester Zoo's COO, said that Saturday was "one of the toughest days" the zoo has ever faced. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg9KT07HrNQ/ He also said that the zoo was "devastated" by the loss of animal life. "Keepers were able to encourage all mammal species away from the fire and to safety - including the zoo’s group of critically endangered Sumatran orangutans, Sulawesi macaques, endangered silvery gibbons and birds such as rhinoceros hornbills," he said.

"We are 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 heart-breaking to lose any animal, especially when conservationists have worked so hard to breed these wonderful species."

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnqyWbWBQtF/ The remaining animals rescued from the blaze are currently being relocated within the zoo. The zoo has reopened to the public today, but the Monsoon Forrest area and Islands zone will remain closed. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.