Officials in north-east Nigeria have confirmed that several wild animals escaped from Sanda Kyarimi Zoo in Borno state following severe flooding in Maiduguri. Videos of animals roaming the streets have been widely shared on social media.
Zoo manager Ali Donbest reported that a hunt is underway to locate the escaped animals, including an ostrich that has already been recaptured. He noted that flooding has submerged the cages of lions and hyenas, but it remains unclear if they have escaped. Donbest also mentioned that some animals, such as a hippo, were spotted on the streets but are not from the zoo, suggesting the floods may have displaced animals from other locations.
Maiduguri resident Ishaq Sani expressed fear of encountering wild animals, having abandoned his home due to the flooding. Despite these concerns, no animal attacks on humans have been reported. The flooding in Maiduguri is part of a series of severe floods across Nigeria, which have claimed over 170 lives and displaced tens of thousands, according to the National Emergency Management Agency.
