Overnight a flash flood affected the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, damaging much of the town but also flooding Tbilisi Zoo, and allowing many of the animals to escape. The animals include 13 wolves, 6 tigers, 6 lions,7 bears, along with hippos and crocodile, upto 31 animals all together. Reports are very flakey and also mostly in Georgian, but so far police have killed at least one lion near a theater, and three wolves in the garden of the Children's Hospital. Hippos (which seem to be deetoothed, based on photos) are being rounded up, and at least one bear has been tranquilized. 1 woman has been killed by the escaped lions, and three zookeepers have died, though it is unknown if this is due to the flooding or the escaped animals. Overall 11 people have died. Will update with further news.
Some more details Video: Hippopotamus on loose in Tbilisi shot with tranquilliser – but tigers, lions and wolves still free - Telegraph
Besides the escapees, only ungulates, elephants, several birds and carnivores are said to have survived, since they were living in upper part of the zoo where water didn't get to them.
Just a slight update. The N section of the zoo has not been flooded. This area as Elephas Maximus said contains a number of the species, and, in addition to his list the reptile house. About 1/2 of the zoo's animals are reportedly missing, though a number of them are assumed drowned. Upto 31 have escaped, and at least 2 Lions, 6 Wolves, 1 (White) Tiger, Bear and Hyena have been killed, and others have been captured. Security forces have tried to tranquilize when the animal poses no threat to safety. Slightly NSFW footage showing the overall devestation is available Flash Flood Ravages Georgian Capital. And I would appreciate ID of this animal, it appears to be a (striped?) hyena. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHdQq0NXAAAU4xP.jpg (Dead animal trigger warning)
You can see a map here on the zooinstitutes website. The river is shown and you can see the row of enclosures closest to it where there are hippos and large carnivores. http://zooinstitutes.com/map.asp?name=7
Georgia flooding sees Tbilisi Zoo animals loose in the streets | Daily Mail Online According to this article, human death toll has risen to 12 and 6 wolves were killed when found in the vicinity of a children's hospital. Also: " 'Some 20 wolves, eight lions, white tigers, tigers, jackals, jaguars have either been shot dead by special forces or are missing. Only three out of our 17 penguins were saved.' " I think I read elsewhere that at least one hyena was also killed, and that the Prague Zoo and other Czech facilities have sent a team of specialists to aid in recovering the animals. Edit: Here is that article:http://rt.com/news/267073-tbilisi-flood-wild-animals/
A statement from EAZA confirms that keepers from Praha, Ramat Gan and Jerusalem Biblical Zoo are on their way to assist with the rescue and recapture efforts: The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) is shocked to hear of the flooding of the city of Tbilisi and its zoo, which resulted in the death of three members of zoo staff, and the escape and shooting of many of its animals. Tbilisi Zoo is a Candidate for Membership of EAZA, and has been developing its facilities and working practices to meet the standards of the Association under the supervision of an experienced mentor. EAZA members Prague Zoo (which has had experience of reacting to catastrophic floods) Jerusalem Zoo and Ramat Gan Safari Park, will be sending teams of keepers and veterinarians to Tbilisi to assist with efforts to recapture and contain escaped animals, and make the facility safe for the staff and animals as the water recedes. EAZA is obliged to repeat the call from the Director of Tbilisi Zoo, Zura Gurielidze, for citizens to remain calm and contact authorities if they encounter any wild animal in the city or the surrounding area. On no account should private citizens attempt to recapture or shoot the animals, which should be considered dangerous. EAZA is gathering information from sources in Tbilisi and elsewhere to build a complete picture of the situation and will be in contact with our members to ascertain how we as a community can most effectively assist. At this stage, we do not know if and when the zoo site will become safe enough for the return of staff and animals; nonetheless, EAZA and its members will do everything possible to assist the local authorities and the management of the zoo ensure the security of the facility and the welfare of the animals. The EAZA community offers its sincere condolences to the families of the staff who lost their lives. The Association also offers its condolences to the staff of the zoo who have lost not only their friends and colleagues, but also many of the animals they cared for.
Currently missing (not captured, shot or found dead) are: 1 bear, 2 tigers and hyena. 6 penguins of 17 have survived. It's now decided by city officilals to rebuild the zoo on the before-planned new territory adjacent to Tbilisi Sea (artificial lake)
If the end result is to build a new (and hopefully better) zoo in a better location, then perhaps some good will result from this tragedy.
I have sent all members with deleted posts a pm regarding my deletions. Please keep this thread on the topic of the floods and not the deletions, thanks. Chlidonias
More on the flooding : Georgia zoo's bears, tigers and wolves are buried after dying in Tbilisi flood | Daily Mail Online Chlidonias' edit: Just a warning for sensitive people, this article has very many photos of dead zoo animals, especially bears and tigers.
another article on the fate of many of the zoo animals. All lions, tigers found dead after Tbilisi zoo flooding | Local News - WMUR Home
The Guardian reports that an escaped lion killed a man Lion that escaped from Georgia zoo has killed a man, says official | World news | The Guardian And another story from Monday which I don't think has been shared: Georgia police accused of unnecessarily shooting zoo animals in wake of floods Officers sent to Tbilisi zoo posed for photographs with dead lions and tigers like big-game hunters, say staff at zoo that has lost half of its animals Georgia police accused of unnecessarily shooting zoo animals in wake of floods | World news | The Guardian
One correction it was actually one of the white tigers that killed a man in one of the buildings in the same neighborhood as the zoo. The man was brought to the hospital but was already dead when he arrived. The tiger was shot.
That's now been reported by the Guardian too: Police in the Georgian capital Tbilisi say a tiger that broke loose after severe flooding at a zoo over the weekend has killed one man and wounded another, before being shot by marksmen. Georgia police say tiger that escaped from zoo has killed a man | World news | The Guardian
Here is another updated article, that notes that the lion mentioned above was actually a white tiger, and that two further animals, a tiger cub and hyena are still unaccounted for. The director has admitted he did not have all the information when he stated that all predators were accounted for. In good news, one of the penguins was recaptured alive by Georgian border guards near Azerbaijan, about 40km from Tblisi on the Kura River. Story here: Tiger mauls man after zoo escape | Stuff.co.nz
for anyone wary of stand-alone links the one in the post above is about support for the zoo, either through donations or volunteers (if one is in the country).
