Officials at a zoo in north-east Nigeria have confirmed that several wild animals escaped following severe flooding in Borno state. The flooding has hit the region hard, including the state capital, Maiduguri, where videos showing some of the escaped animals wandering the streets have gone viral on social media.
Ali Donbest, the manager of the Sanda Kyarimi Zoo, told the BBC that while the exact number of animals on the loose is still unclear, efforts are underway to track and recapture them. One ostrich has already been recovered, but Donbest urged residents to remain cautious.
Local reports indicate that Maiduguri is facing its worst flooding in 30 years, forcing many to evacuate their homes.
Mr Donbest said that there had been some success in finding some of those that had escaped.
“We’ve been able to recapture the ostrich seen on the street and we also got a call that a crocodile had been found in another location but we cannot get there due to the floods,” he said.
He also said the cages where the lions and hyenas were kept had been submerged by floodwaters but cannot tell if they had escaped.
The zoo boss explained that the flood had damaged some of its walls enabling the animals to roam free.
However, not all the creatures spotted on the streets may be from the zoo.
“We got a report that a hippo was seen somewhere, and we don’t have hippos in the zoo, so the waters might also disperse animals from other locations too,” he said.
Maiduguri resident Ishaq Sani shared with the BBC that his greatest concern is encountering a wild animal in the aftermath of the zoo escape. Sani, who had to flee his home due to the severe flooding, is currently staying with a friend in a different area of the city.
So far, there have been no reports of animals attacking people, but the situation remains tense.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of flooding that has devastated parts of Nigeria in recent months. According to the National Emergency Management Agency, over 170 people have lost their lives, and tens of thousands have been displaced nationwide.
SOURCE: BBC
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