Zoo survived Katrina

2005-09-04 13:22

New Orleans - Other than an alligator on the loose, a couple of dead otters and a host of shell-shocked animals, denizens of the New Orleans zoo, came through deadly Hurricane Katrina relatively unscathed.

But Dan Maloney, general curator of the Audubon Zoo is now worried about the danger posed by downed trees and low-flying rescue helicopters that he says traumatise his animals.

Tired and, Maloney was however quick to play down fears that the zoo itself posed a fresh danger to New Orleans, brought to its knees by one of the worst natural disasters in US history.

Residents need not worry about dangerous animals prowling through the wreckage if the city, he said, stressing all were accounted for except for the single errant alligator, he said.

"We were very fortunate," said Maloney, who weathered the storm and its aftermath in the zoo that is home to around 1 500 animals from over 350 species from around the world.

Because it is built on high ground, the zoo avoided flooding and the fatalities were minimal in a city where the human death toll is thought to have reached in the thousands.

"We lost a pair of young river otters," said Maloney evidently upset over the loss of life.

Some animals went missing after the storm and flooding hit Monday, but most returned and were found soundly in the zoo, including a black vulture who was found happily munching on cattle egrits.

"We also had a flamingo that was traumatised. We though he would die but he has returned to the flock. "I'm sure the alligator will return too," said Maloney.

The giraffes were apparently a little upset at the water rationing imposed as the city utilities fell victim to the deadly storm.

Calling out "come here sweetie, sweetie", Maloney held out a bucket of extra water for the four animals who timidly approached with what seemed liked a dazed look, retreating a few steps, but eventually lapping up their drink.

Enough meat

The big cats were kept well fed. "We invite journalists in, lock the gates and then they are never heard of again," he joked.

In fact the lions and other fierce felines had bellyfulls of meat thanks to a two week supply kept in massive freezers powered by generators.

For years, the zoo has been preparing for just such a storm, reinforcing concrete structures that house most animals during the hurricane, organizing emergency supplies and preparing for the potential evacuation of staff.

Dozens of zoo officials and wardens sat out the storm and the horrific aftermath alongside the animals they love in what they have now nicknamed "Camp Katrina".

"We holed up in the reptile house," said Maloney, as workers removed downed trees to clear a path for trucks to bring in diesel to fuel generators needed to regulate temperatures in the serpentarium.

Maloney praised the efforts of rescue teams searching for people trapped in their flooded homes, but said he worried about the psychological impact of the low flying helicopters on zoo animals.

"They're getting spooked, this could serious affect them," he said.

He also feared it could take as long as four years to get the zoo back in pristine shape.

But most of all he is relieved virtually all animals survived Katrina's wrath.

As flood waters rose in the low-lying city in the hours after the storm, he had feared they would drown the animals, Maloney said.

"I was this close to building the ark," he said.

- AFP