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 :(

[SquirrelsTyrells]

Because if they weren’t in captivity they wouldn’t have died sort of thing.

Why were there no sprinklers?

What if it were children in a school? A lot of sympathy and a crowdfunder would suffice now would it.

I have HUGE off the scale empathy for animals. Can’t stand the thought of their fear and frustration. Imagine what it’s must be like to burn to death in a building you can’t get out of. It isn’t ok.

[SquirrelsTyrells]

The building is made from wood and plastic FFS. They knew there would be a risk. Why wasn’t the risk managed?

[PitPony]

How do you know that the risk wasn't managed, Squirrels ?
You do realise that risk assessments can take place but accidents can and do still happen, right?

[QuilliamCakespeare]

@SquirrelsTyrells the building is mostly concrete. There was a small timber section as a walk through the orangutans section.

Unless you know anything about the building's construction you're in no position to talk about the success, or lack thereof, regarding management of any risk. For all we know, measures in place to minimise fire spread could have done their job. Until there is more information about how and why the fire started it's pretty ridiculous to comment on whether the zoo had appropriate protection and prevention in place.

I have smoke detectors in my house. I don't overload sockets or use dodgy fake phone chargers. If my house burns down, is it because I didn't manage the risk or could it be because something unforeseen and/or out of my control happened?

[QuilliamCakespeare]

@PitPony - exactly!

[KathrynOfArrogance]

@SquirrelsTyrells the fire was on the roof sprinklers don't point up

[Honeyroar]

I'm another who is shocked that this could happen in a modern, well run zoo. Poor animals.

[SquirrelsTyrells]

I just don’t understand how there is such a lack of compassion but huge understanding that it’s ok for this to have happened.

If there was a human caught up in there and didn’t survive, what would your thoughts be then? Please consider this question thoroughly before answering.

There’d be uproar.

[SquirrelsTyrells]

And then whole notion that ‘phew the monkeys’ survived is quite alarming. Because birds and lizards have the urge to survive too. They feel fear and pain.

I’m not vegan, I’m not an animal rights advocate. I’m just not tolerant of animals dying and people shrugging their shoulders.
The zoo have lost two (?) elephants too recently, to a virus?
So much death there. Again, a simile, if it were a human hospital, for example, and a virus killed two people and then a fire killed many more, what would be the reaction?

You only have to look at how the nation, rightfully reaction to Grenfell. And before the - ‘human life is more valuable than an animals’ brigade come along, I disagree. You can dismiss a life because it isn’t human.

Peaceful protest here guys 🙏

[SquirrelsTyrells]

You can’t dismiss a life because it isn’t human...

[Dyrne]

Eh? Are you reading the same thread I am Squirrels ? Not a single poster has said it’s fine that any animals died...

It’s awful, and there are many news articles talking about how upset the keepers are. A full investigation will take place and lessons learned will be implemented at zoos across the country, possibly even the world. Nobody is just shrugging their shoulders about this.

Zoos aren’t ideal but they’re the best option we have to conserve species and educate the general public. As PO have said, Chester zoo links in with local charities in countries of origin to preserve habitats and protect the wild population.

Let’s be honest - many people wouldn’t give a shit for the fate of some far off animals if they didn’t see them in zoos to see them firsthand to build a bond with the species. A lot of people don’t care about conserving North Sea cod, for example, but fall over themselves about panda conservation. This is due to the fact you can see pandas in zoos being all cute and cuddly - cod just don’t have the same PR.

[NicoAndTheNiners]

The elephant virus isn't unique to Chester zoo. Happens at other zoos and I believe in the wild as well. Chester zoo are throwing money and time at research into this.....hopefully one day they may find a cure.

[KathrynOfArrogance]

cod just don't have the same PR
Love it :D
No one has said anything about not caring for particular animals at all, all living things are extremely important to our lives

Apart from flies, them guys can do one.

[CatLadyToddlerMother]

Apart from flies, them guys can do one.

And wasps which serve no purpose

[KathrynOfArrogance]

@CatLadyToddlerMother I think wasps pollinate things but don't quote me on it haha

[AlexanderHamilton]

I’m sure far more animals die in forest fires each year than zoo fires.

[ExFury]

The zoo have lost two (?) elephants too recently, to a virus?

The virus that they lost the two young elephants too is a virus that most elephants, captive and wild, carry. No one really knows why it kills some and not others. That happens in the wild and in captive populations and is not at all unique to Chester.

[MrsJayy]

I was reading the elephant virus manifests just after the babies wean and scientists and reseatchers don't know why.

[KathrynOfArrogance]

Re: Elephants, as a PP said I believe it's something they carry, much like something we would be vaccinated against (TB etc)
They have lost an elephant to it previously to
Imagine if they weren't at the zoo how awful their time would be when they were ill and about to pass

[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.

[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.

[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)

[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 🙄

[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.

[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.