Chester zoo is on fire

[KathrynOfArrogance]

And I really want to go and help the animals but I know they wouldn't let me anyway!
People are important too but the poor animals must be so so stressed!
AIBU to want them to escape :(

[MrsJayy]

Yes the Sumatrians used to live in the Realm bit I imagine the Borneans have had tobudge up to make room.

[woodwaj]

I went today, all staff seemed to be working hard in the rain. I was speaking to a lady in the red ape realm the orangutans have been moved there. She said they had been there previously and have settled well. Walking past the islands I couldn't tell anything had happened with the roof...I am short though and was chasing a puddle mad toddler!

[MrsJayy]

Oh last weeks programme they showed a spritely 73yr old tortoise doing his thing they comically mate the noiseis silly

[KathrynOfArrogance]

NSFW
It was a tapir (sp?!)

[KathrynOfArrogance]

I've just put it on to download!
I think it was anteaters or porcupines that we're trying to get it on when we last went, il see if I have a picture of it's shlong, I was mortified! DP found it hilarious....

[MrsJayy]

Yes it was on last night we recorded it not watched yet, it should be on 4/7 today. I love anteaters they are just ridiculous looking

[KathrynOfArrogance]

Was the Christmas one on last night? Il have to try and get it on catch up!
To the PP who mentioned the giant anteaters, there was an ep a while ago and one died it was so sad and I was pregnant and didn't cope very well!!

There is an article on Cheshire live asking if it was fair of them to set up the funding page

[WhatchaMaCalllit]

@jessstan2 - I was watching that too. I'm not the worlds biggest fan of spiders to be honest but it was fascinating how the males were so considerably smaller than the females of that particular breed and just how many spider babies she had....makes me itchy all over but there you go.

The sun bears were lovely and boy oh boy could that cub scream when it was being taken out to be tagged and weighed!

They did include a bit at the end about the fire and showed some of the images that have been posted on this thread earlier about how devastating it was.

I think it's a brilliant programme and if there are any Irish MNetters, there is a similar programme filmed in Dublin Zoo that I think is available on the RTE Player app.

[jessstan2]

I saw 'The Secret Life of the Zoo', last night. It was their Christmas episode which had been recorded well before the fire. I am so enchanted by this series and full of admiration for those who work at the zoo. The breeding programmes and conservation ethos at Chester is marvellous.

Last night a bear gave birth to a little bearlet, aw.

A big spider also gave birth (I was not quite so mad about that but each to their own).

I never thought I would fall in love with giant anteaters but I have. I've learned so much from this programme. It's also very relaxing.

[bottleofbeer]

Ex keeper. I'll answer, honestly the pros and cons of zooology.

[woodwaj]

I just watched the documentary it had a few small clips of the fire at the end. Was sad to see!

[CatLadyToddlerMother]

I thought it could be electrical

[MrsJayy]

Och what a shame hopefully they can rebuild soon..

[pinklemonade84]

I took dd to Chester zoo today and you can see the part that caught fire on the road as you approach the roundabout to the entrance. It was so upsetting to see

[MrsJayy]

A little zoo near me had a fire it was devestating for them turned it was a faulty heatlamp .

[redsummershoes]

as expected then. electrical fire would always be the most likely cause.

[KathrynOfArrogance]

Verdict is in

fire caused by electrical fault

[CatLadyToddlerMother]

Yes, wasps are pollinators

I didn't know this, I'm still allergic to their stings though so will still be avoiding

[KathrynOfArrogance]

The idea of a flat octopus with snake tongue and tentacles gives me nightmares

[DaysOfCurlySpencer]

Yes, wasps are pollinators and are very useful.

A tentacled snake is cute, not like a flat octopus, although I quite like that idea. It has tentacles on it's face, a bit like horns.

[Pieceofpurplesky]

You are just not listening are you squirrel? The virus would have killed the elephants wherever they lived whether the plains of Africa, the Asian forests or a Zoo.
Chester are one of the leaders in fundraising and research in to finding a cure for a virus that ALL elephants carry.

[SquirrelsTyrells]

Coppermine calm down clever clogs. I’m not implying that at all. Sorry you’ve misunderstood my post.

I’m implying that it mightn’t have happened if they weren’t in captivity and I’m wondering (literally) if the virus is preventable.

Unfortunately I don’t have time to spend reading all and sundry on every event that happens.

Can’t dontrol a virus, don’t keep the animals.

Shame Mumsnet can’t control the rabid hyenas that surround a poster with a minority view 🙄

[MrsJayy]

Yes it is close to the herpes virus is how somebody explained it to me, I have a fb friend who has a degree in zoology (or something like that)

[ExFury]

The virus was described to me as a bit like cold sores - many many people carry the virus, but only some get cold sores and in babies is can be very dangerous to some, yet others remain unaffected.

[Coppermine]

SquirrelsTyrells before you start implying that Chester Zoo are responsible for the death of two elephants, at least spend 5 minutes checking your information.

Chester Zoo fully explain the facts about the virus here https://www.chesterzoo.org/support-us/eehv/more-information

As well as the deaths we are aware of in zoos, EEHV is known to have caused deaths in at least seven countries across the Asian elephant range in the wild – India, Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia (Sumatra) and Myanmar

Then their page provides so much information on what work they are doing to help fight this virus.

It's very, very sad that the elephants died but it had absolutely nothing to do with the care provided to them by Chester Zoo.

If you're going to 'peaceful protest' at least know what it is your protesting about. You just make yourself look silly otherwise.