Chimps escape enclosure
2009-07-05 22:24
London - Chester Zoo, Britain's most popular wildlife attraction, was evacuated on Sunday after 30 chimpanzees escaped from their enclosure.
The animals made their escape at lunchtime and found their way into an area where their food is normally prepared.
Visitors were asked to leave the 110-acre zoo as keepers rounded up the chimps.
A spokesperson said: "We had an army of chimps eating their way through the keeper's kitchen and the decision was taken, quite rightly, to evacuate.
"We managed to get all the chimps back in their enclosure a couple of hours later and some had very full bellies."
There were no injuries to members of the public or staff and the zoo said the decision to evacuate was taken as a precautionary measure.
The spokesperson said an investigation was underway into how the animals escaped.
The zoo, in northwestern England, is home to more than 7 000 animals and attracts more than a million visitors each year.