Maiduguri zoo animals escape amid devastating northern Nigeria floods

The flood in northern Nigeria killed most of the animals at the Maiduguri zoo, and some dangerous species, such as crocodiles and snakes, escaped into the wild. Local authorities warn residents and urge caution, and searches for the escaped animals are ongoing.

Due to the massive flood that struck the northern areas of Nigeria, tragic events occurred at the Sanda Kyarimi zoo in the city of Maiduguri, Borno state.

Heavy rains and the breach of a dam flooded the zoo area. This led to the death of more than 80 percent of the animals that lived in the park, including lions, buffalo, and ostriches.

However, not all the animals died – some, including deadly dangerous species like crocodiles and snakes, managed to escape and are now moving through the city streets, posing a threat to residents.

The zoo owner, Ali Donbest, explained to the BBC that the flood damaged part of the enclosures, allowing the animals to escape.

Donbest added that it is not exactly known how many animals escaped, but intense searches are ongoing. Videos and photos have already appeared on social media showing animals roaming the streets – one example was an ostrich that was successfully captured.

He also added that although the lion and hyena cages were flooded, it is unknown if these animals also managed to escape.

There have also been reports of animals that did not come 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 noted.

The flood that affected Maiduguri also damaged other parts of the city, including the post office and hospital. The President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, described the disaster as "the worst flood in decades," forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.

The rushing water has already claimed the lives of at least 170 people, and hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes.