This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/15/world/europe/zoo-animals-on-the-loose-in-tbilisi-after-flooding.html

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Zoo Animals on the Loose in Tbilisi After Flooding Zoo Animals on the Loose in Tbilisi After Flooding
(about 7 hours later)
MOSCOW — Residents of Tbilisi, Georgia, were warned to stay off the streets on Sunday lest they encounter one of the lions, tigers, bears or other beasts set free from the city zoo after floodwaters devastated the center of the capital. MOSCOW — Residents of Tbilisi, Georgia, were warned to stay off the streets on Sunday lest they encounter one of the lions, tigers, bears or other beasts set free from the city zoo after floodwaters devastated the center of the capital.
At least 12 people died in the floods and 24 were reported missing, according to Davit Narmania, the mayor of Tbilisi. “Not all the animals that fled from the zoo have been caught yet,” the mayor was quoted as saying by Russia’s Interfax news agency. “Therefore I would ask the population to avoid moving around the city except in cases of acute need.”At least 12 people died in the floods and 24 were reported missing, according to Davit Narmania, the mayor of Tbilisi. “Not all the animals that fled from the zoo have been caught yet,” the mayor was quoted as saying by Russia’s Interfax news agency. “Therefore I would ask the population to avoid moving around the city except in cases of acute need.”
It was not immediately clear how many animals were on the loose and how many had been killed in the floods. A usually burbling stream that feeds through a narrow gorge in parts of downtown Tbilisi turned into a raging torrent that burst its banks after heavy rains on Saturday night, local news reports said. It was not immediately clear how many animals remained on the loose and how many had been killed in the floods. A burbling stream that feeds through a narrow gorge in parts of downtown Tbilisi turned into a raging torrent and burst its banks after heavy rains on Saturday night, local news reports said.
Images from the city underscored the animal anarchy — one showed a group of people herding a hippopotamus along a street choked with mud, after it had been hit by a tranquilizer dart. Others showed the corpses of animals amid the debris of wrecked cars and buildings. A bear perched above the roiling waters on an air-conditioning unit. Images from the city underscored the anarchy. One showed people herding a hippopotamus along a street choked with mud, after it had been hit by a tranquilizer dart. Others revealed the corpses of animals amid the debris of wrecked cars and buildings. And a bear was pictured perched above the roiling waters on an air-conditioning unit.
A special police team was dispatched to the neighborhoods around the zoo to hunt for the roaming animals, according to local television reports. A special police team was sent to the neighborhoods around the zoo to hunt for the roaming animals, according to local television reports.
Some of the animals were killed when they could not be captured, the report said, including six wolves found on the grounds of a children’s hospital as well as a bear and a hyena. Some residents expressed indignation at those killings, but officials said various animals were too aggressive to be captured. Some of the animals were killed when they could not be captured, the report said, including six wolves found on the grounds of a children’s hospital, as well as a bear and a hyena. Some residents expressed indignation at those killings, but officials said some animals were too aggressive to be captured.
The director of the zoo, Zurab Gurielidze, called for an investigation into the killing of the animals. “If an animal attacked people, it’s one thing,” he was quoted as saying by Interfax. “I know that no order was issued to kill animals. Some policemen exceeded their authority.”The director of the zoo, Zurab Gurielidze, called for an investigation into the killing of the animals. “If an animal attacked people, it’s one thing,” he was quoted as saying by Interfax. “I know that no order was issued to kill animals. Some policemen exceeded their authority.”
Zoo workers were quoted as saying that a full animal census was impossible because parts of the zoo remained under water, but a popular albino lion called Sumba was found shot dead on the grounds.Zoo workers were quoted as saying that a full animal census was impossible because parts of the zoo remained under water, but a popular albino lion called Sumba was found shot dead on the grounds.
Helicopters were swooping low over the city to try to spot the animals. Those missing after the flood included 20 wolves, eight lions, and several tigers and jaguars, Interfax reported. Only three of 17 penguins survived, the news agency said.Helicopters were swooping low over the city to try to spot the animals. Those missing after the flood included 20 wolves, eight lions, and several tigers and jaguars, Interfax reported. Only three of 17 penguins survived, the news agency said.
One zoo worker who died while trying to save the animals, Guliko Chitadze, a 25-year veteran of the Tbilisi Zoo, had her arm amputated in late May after she was attacked by a tiger, Interfax said. One person who died while trying to save the animals, Guliko Chitadze, a 25-year veteran of the Tbilisi Zoo, had her arm amputated in late May after she was attacked by a tiger, Interfax said.
At a Sunday Mass, Patriarch Ilia II, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, told worshipers that the broad assault against the church by the country’s former Communist rulers lay at the root of the disaster.At a Sunday Mass, Patriarch Ilia II, the head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, told worshipers that the broad assault against the church by the country’s former Communist rulers lay at the root of the disaster.
“When Communists came to us in this country, they ordered that all crosses and bells of the churches be melted down and the money used to build the zoo,” the patriarch said, according to Interfax. “Therefore, the zoo should have not been built there,” he said. “Many didn’t know this, but sin will not go without punishment.” “When Communists came to us in this country, they ordered that all crosses and bells of the churches be melted down and the money used to build the zoo,” the patriarch said, Interfax reported. “Therefore, the zoo should have not been built there,” he said. “Many didn’t know this, but sin will not go without punishment.”