Story highlights
- Zoo says it expects to reopen Sunday after the fire
- More than 70 firefighters sent to the zoo to combat blaze
"All other animals in the vicinity are being monitored closely by our vets, but early signs suggest they have not been affected. We will continue to monitor them over the coming days," the zoo said. "We are all naturally devastated by this, but are immensely grateful to the fire brigade, who reacted quickly to the situation to bring the fire under control."
The zoo -- an iconic London attraction in Regent's Park -- was closed to visitors Saturday, but after consulting with fire experts, it said it's confident it can open safely on Sunday morning.
Zoo staff members were at the scene within minutes, and the fire was brought under control with firefighters' help about three hours later.
Staff will work with fire investigators to determine the cause of the blaze, the zoo said.
London Fire Brigade said it had sent 10 fire engines and more than 70 firefighters to the zoo after the alarm was raised. It said the fire affected part of an animal petting area as well as a shop and cafe.









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