VIDEO: A look at the damage left behind – after flooding at the Calgary Zoo.
CALGARY – The Calgary Zoo has given a tour of their facilities, just days after a devastating flood ripped through St. Patrick’s Island.
Staff scrambled to move animals to higher ground on Thursday, after the City of Calgary was placed in a state of local emergency.
The Bow River quickly swelled, overtaking the island the zoo is located on and forcing the closure of access roads.
Officials say staff even risked their lives to stop a hippo from escaping into the swollen Bow River, because flood waters in the enclosure were high enough during the floods for the dangerous herbivores to swim out.
One hippo, named Lobi, was feeling particularly adventurous and moving freely around the African Savannah building.
Director of animal care, conservation and research, Jake Veasey says he had to break a window to get into the building and he swam in the muddy flood waters to find the animal.
Staff used cinder blocks and construction equipment to block Lobi inside the building.
In addition, the zoo’s giraffes were up to their bellies in water and have not been coping well with the cold and stress.
Several animals did not survive the flooding; at least one peacock died, as well as tilapia in the hippo pool and piranha in the South America exhibit.
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The Calgary Zoo will remain closed for the next two weeks as they work to restore the grounds.
– With files from The Canadian Press
GALLERY: Flood aftermath at the Calgary Zoo
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