THIRTEEN monkeys have died in an early morning fire at Woburn Safari Park in Bedfordshire.
Fire crews arrived at the scene shortly after 2.30am to find the outbuilding housing the monkeys "well alight", and spent two hours extinguishing the flames.
The roof of the Patas monkey house, within the African Forest drive-through enclosure, collapsed as a result of the blaze.
Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue said 90 per cent of the building was damaged by the fire.
"Devastatingly", the park said, none of the animals could be saved despite the efforts of staff and crews.
In a statement, the park said all the other animals in the jungle drive-through enclosure were being monitored, but early signs suggested they had not been affected.
A member of the park's security staff spotted the fire during a routine patrol, Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said.
It took fire crews two hours to put out the blaze using fire hoses while wearing breathing apparatus to protect themselves from the smoke and fumes.
An investigation into the cause has begun, the park said.
