LAW OF JUNGLE
Escaped zoo beasts shot
Wild animals roamed the streets of Tblisi, the capital of Georgia, on Sunday after a flood washed away the walls at a zoo and allowed dozens of lions, tigers and bears to escape.
The 30 missing animals also included hyenas, wolves, jaguars and even a huge hippopotamus, which was seen frolicking in floodwaters as he was chased by local authorities.
“The daytime wasn’t bad,” said resident Khariton Gabashvili.
“But tonight everyone has to be very careful because all the beasts haven’t been captured. They haven’t been fed, and in their hungry state they might attack people.”
As the beast roamed rampant, the streets of the nation’s capital became the scene of a tragic hunt, as police and residents started shooting the beasts out of fear.
Six wolves were reported gunned down near a children’s hospital. A rare breed of white lion cub was also shot to death.
Zoo director Zurab Gurielidze lamented the loss of the park's beloved white lion named Shumba, who was found shot in the head.
He begged cops and the other 1.1 million residents of Tbilisi not to shoot animals unless it’s a life or death situation,.
"Our Shumba is no more," Gurielidze said, according to the news agency Interfax.
The hippo, however, appeared to come to a much better fate as it was hit with a pink colored tranquilizer dart while roaming past a downtown Swatch store.
Locals then guided the woozy, disoriented animal through muddy city streets to a safer location.
“I can’t imagine this tragedy,” zoo spokeswoman Mzia Sharashidze said. “Almost the whole zoo is underwater.”
Damage was estimated to be upward of 50 million lari— or $ 22 million— according to government officials.
A dozen people also died in the flooding. Monday has been declared an official day of mourning.
“Such a terribly tragedy. People died, many lost their homes. I can’t stop crying,” said Tbilisi resident Anna Korintelli.
Communist leaders of the former Soviet republic share blame for Sunday’s tragedy, said Patriarch Ilia II, head of the Georgian orthodox church.
“When communists came to us in this country, they ordered that all the crosses and bells of the churches be melted down and the money used to build the zoo,” he told his congregation.
“The sin will not go without punishment,” he said.