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| Can the Tbilisi hippo become the symbol of Georgia’s flood recovery? | Can the Tbilisi hippo become the symbol of Georgia’s flood recovery? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scenes reminiscent of Noah’s ark emerged from Tbilisi at the weekend as heavy floods swept through the town and breached the walls of the Georgian capital’s zoo. | Scenes reminiscent of Noah’s ark emerged from Tbilisi at the weekend as heavy floods swept through the town and breached the walls of the Georgian capital’s zoo. |
| Pictures of animals dominated the front pages – a freshly tranquillised hippo wandering through the streets; a bear perching on top of an air conditioning unit – and the world was gripped by the drama. | Pictures of animals dominated the front pages – a freshly tranquillised hippo wandering through the streets; a bear perching on top of an air conditioning unit – and the world was gripped by the drama. |
| By Wednesday an escaped tiger had killed one person and wounded another before being shot by the authorities. | By Wednesday an escaped tiger had killed one person and wounded another before being shot by the authorities. |
| Less talked about was the human cost of the disaster. The latest figures suggest 20 people died with several still unaccounted for, with significant damage to the city and an increasingly politicised situation on the ground. | Less talked about was the human cost of the disaster. The latest figures suggest 20 people died with several still unaccounted for, with significant damage to the city and an increasingly politicised situation on the ground. |
| Tblisi residents are angry about alleged government incompetence in the aftermath of the floods, and on Wednesday many took to the streets in solidarity with the city’s zoo keeper, who had been questioned by the police over the tiger attack. Social media is also full of derision for Georgian politicians. | Tblisi residents are angry about alleged government incompetence in the aftermath of the floods, and on Wednesday many took to the streets in solidarity with the city’s zoo keeper, who had been questioned by the police over the tiger attack. Social media is also full of derision for Georgian politicians. |
| Spontaneous rally in #Tbilisi protesting perceived gov ineptitude draws a hip, committed crowd #tbilisiflood pic.twitter.com/z4JCkujSxo | Spontaneous rally in #Tbilisi protesting perceived gov ineptitude draws a hip, committed crowd #tbilisiflood pic.twitter.com/z4JCkujSxo |
| Meanwhile, the hippo has become a symbol for protesters and for fundraising efforts alike. | Meanwhile, the hippo has become a symbol for protesters and for fundraising efforts alike. |
| Hippo: the new symbol of justice for young Georgians :) #tbilisiflood pic.twitter.com/X8cA1AmvlL | Hippo: the new symbol of justice for young Georgians :) #tbilisiflood pic.twitter.com/X8cA1AmvlL |
| One of the campaigns adopting the mascot is the Tbilisi Hippo Fund, which will divide donations in half – sharing the money between the zoo and the people affected by flooding. | One of the campaigns adopting the mascot is the Tbilisi Hippo Fund, which will divide donations in half – sharing the money between the zoo and the people affected by flooding. |
| “We thought that the hippo would work as a unifier for people to get behind,” said Adrian Scoffham, the founder of the fund. | “We thought that the hippo would work as a unifier for people to get behind,” said Adrian Scoffham, the founder of the fund. |
| “As often happens with natural catastrophes, infrastructure is damaged and can be repaired” but the victims are forgotten, he added. | “As often happens with natural catastrophes, infrastructure is damaged and can be repaired” but the victims are forgotten, he added. |
| The fund has also set up a Twitter account for the Tbilisi hippo, and is planning a benefit concert with Georgian-born singer Katie Melua in London. | The fund has also set up a Twitter account for the Tbilisi hippo, and is planning a benefit concert with Georgian-born singer Katie Melua in London. |
| Another campaign that has proved popular on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo is Help Tbilisi Recover from Flooding, which calls on “friends of Georgia” to lend their support. | Another campaign that has proved popular on the crowdfunding website Indiegogo is Help Tbilisi Recover from Flooding, which calls on “friends of Georgia” to lend their support. |
| Donations will be routed through a local NGO, and founder Maka Meshveliani has promised regular updates on spending. Around a third of the $34,720 (£21,835) donated so far has come from the US, with Georgia and the UK in second and third, she said on Facebook. | Donations will be routed through a local NGO, and founder Maka Meshveliani has promised regular updates on spending. Around a third of the $34,720 (£21,835) donated so far has come from the US, with Georgia and the UK in second and third, she said on Facebook. |
| Wolves, bears, tigers, lions and a HIPPO set loose from zoo during fatal flood http://t.co/D2Tn9E2C6v pic.twitter.com/vZf37j9b5U | Wolves, bears, tigers, lions and a HIPPO set loose from zoo during fatal flood http://t.co/D2Tn9E2C6v pic.twitter.com/vZf37j9b5U |
| Despite some rather sensationalist tabloid reporting, Tbilisi residents rallied behind their zoo animals. Photographs of people helping the hippo to safety have been widely shared, revealing significant public sympathy for their plight. | Despite some rather sensationalist tabloid reporting, Tbilisi residents rallied behind their zoo animals. Photographs of people helping the hippo to safety have been widely shared, revealing significant public sympathy for their plight. |
| I love this picture of #Tbilisi locals returning a hippo to the zoo. Great people - the reason why I love the city. pic.twitter.com/GtKWV6kSaG | I love this picture of #Tbilisi locals returning a hippo to the zoo. Great people - the reason why I love the city. pic.twitter.com/GtKWV6kSaG |
| And expect collective sighs of relief after a tweet from @Tbilisihippo showing the world’s most famous Georgian animal, finally, at rest. | And expect collective sighs of relief after a tweet from @Tbilisihippo showing the world’s most famous Georgian animal, finally, at rest. |
| Home (for now at least) and recovering from my adventure. https://t.co/HSJT1Cr1qa pic.twitter.com/RXMYuMFKnB | Home (for now at least) and recovering from my adventure. https://t.co/HSJT1Cr1qa pic.twitter.com/RXMYuMFKnB |