News from Tbilisi

The cages our colleagues were cleaning.

Water, mud, stones and trunks quickly completely destroyed this line of cages, while the animals remained inside. From the exhibits which had openings at their tops, the animals were able to escape, although some died inside (this explains why the numbers of animals which escaped was unclear). The central belt of exhibits was two-thirds flooded, and the animals which survived, stayed on the dry land where they were safe. Only the upper line of aviaries, enclosures and exhibits remained undamaged.  

Three staff members died during the floods, not because they were attacked by carnivores. A large part of the 600 animals kept at Tbilisi Zoo before the floods, and almost half of all the mammals, are dead. The major part of the Zoo itself is still of the "Soviet type" and is located on a mere 9 hectares of absolutely improper terrain surrounded by construction and a busy street. This is why the relocation of the Zoo was long considered even before the current catastrophe. Now is a good opportunity to realize this.

The Czech team is helping to care for the animals and remove the debris. People in the Zoo and the entire town show their gratitude and express their thanks; quick compassion, solidarity and the willingness to help are very valuable for them.

It is interesting to note the difference between the picture media give of the "carnivores in the town" and the reality. Perhaps, with the exception of two or three wolves, which were really shot down in the town, the escaped animals did not leave the Zoo area or were captured in its near proximity. The bear on the air-conditioning unit was climbing on the administrative building inside the Zoo, the photo of the crocodile next to a car was also taken inside the Zoo and probably by using photomontage the specimen, who was shorter than 2 metres, turned into a four-metre-long monster. The hippo was narcotized at the crossing in front of the Zoo, the lions and tigers were shot dead inside of the Zoo.