Flood Kills 80 Percent of Animals at Nigerian Zoo and Sets Loose 'Crocodiles and Snakes'
The general manager of Sanda Kyarimi Zoo in the Borno state of Nigeria said several animals pushed out of the zoo by flood waters have been recovered
AUDU MARTE/AFP via Getty
Flooding in the Borno state in northeast NigeriaA recent flood in Nigeria has decimated the animal population of one local zoo in the area, according to news sources.
Ali Abatcha Don Best, the general manager of Sanda Kyarimi Zoo, said that 80% of the zoo's animals died during flooding caused by the collapse of the Alau dam in Borno, a state in northern Nigeria, according to Reuters, Associated Press, and local newspaper Inside Arewa.
The zoo manager also said that flood waters allowed several dangerous reptiles held at the facility to escape the zoo. He told people to watch for the creatures, which may have "washed" out into residential areas.
"Some deadly animals have been washed away into our communities, like crocodiles and snakes," Best said, per the outlets, adding that people should "take all the necessary precautions [and] measures to avoid these animals."
Related: 27 Animals Found Dead at a Virginia Zoo Amid Animal Cruelty Investigation, Bengal Tiger Euthanized
Don Best told BBC that they were able to locate and bring back some animals, including an ostrich filmed on the loose in the city of Maiduguri.
"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.
The manager also told the outlet that the zoo had received reports about other animals on the streets but noted that those don't belong to 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," he explained.
Related: Woman Jumps Fence at N.J. Zoo and Tries to Touch 500 Lb. Bengal Tiger, Police Searching for Her
The collapse of the Alau dam has caused some of the area's worst flooding in decades, according to AP. The dam had already been at full capacity due to heavy rains, which hit the region over the last few days, per the outlet.
The office of Nigerian President Bola Tinubu encouraged people to evacuate areas most affected by the flood waters, especially communities close to river banks and has directed the National Emergency Management Agency to assist victims, per Reuters and Inside Arewa.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
His office said in a statement to the outlets that the president "extends his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state, especially to the families that have lost their means of livelihood due to the disaster triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam."
Nahum Daso, the state's police spokesperson, told AP in a statement that about 15% of the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, had been underwater due to the floods. However, it is unknown how many people may have died as a result of the flooding, as a death toll has not yet been released.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
