Officials from the Sanda Kyarimi Zoo have confirmed that several wild animals have escaped captivity following severe flooding that has ravaged Borno State.
The flooding, described as one of the worst in three decades, has led to widespread evacuations in Maiduguri, with many residents forced to leave their homes.
Ali Donbest, the zoo’s administrator, reported that the flooding has damaged the facility, compromising the enclosures of various animals, including lions and hyenas.
“We’re currently conducting a search for the escaped animals, although the exact number remains uncertain,” Donbest told the BBC.
While one ostrich has been successfully recaptured, reports have emerged of a crocodile sighting in another part of town, which remains inaccessible due to rising waters.
The floodwaters have created an atmosphere of fear among the local populace.
Maiduguri resident Ishaq Sani expressed his concerns: “My biggest fear is encountering a wild animal; I had to leave my home because of the floods.” Fortunately, there have been no reports of wild animal attacks on humans thus far.
The flooding in Borno is part of a larger seasonal crisis affecting Nigeria, where over 170 lives have been lost and thousands displaced due to similar disasters.
Donbest warned that not all wild animals spotted in the vicinity may be from the zoo, suggesting that the flooding might also disperse wildlife from other habitats.
