50 exotic animals die in Russian circus fire

Russia: More than 50 animals, including parrots, monkeys and chinchillas, have died in a circus fire
in Russia's second largest city of St Petersburg.

The fire broke out yesterday when the exotic animals had been on display in an outbuilding close to the circus, a circus spokeswoman was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

Twenty-three parrots, 10 rabbits, six chinchillas, four canary birds, four monkeys, two iguanas, two ferrets, a snake and a skunk died in the fire, report said.

However, there were no human casualties. It took the fire-fighters about two hours to put out
the blaze.