Floods in Lower Saxony - Serengeti Park Hodenhagen flooded - staff have to evacuate first animals
The first animals in the Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen, Lower Saxony, have been evacuated due to flooding. A spokeswoman said on Thursday that water had entered some of the stables of the jungle safari with more than 200 monkeys. Lemurs, varis, prairie dogs and meerkats had to leave their enclosures and were now housed elsewhere on the grounds north of Hanover. Lower Saxony's Minister President Stephan Weil (SPD) and the SPD's Federal Chairman Lars Klingbeil visited the zoo on Thursday to see the situation for themselves.
According to the park, large parts of the grounds are flooded and in some cases cannot be reached at all or can only be reached with Unimogs or tractors. In the north-east of the site, administrative and supply buildings, restaurants, stores and some of the lodges are surrounded by masses of water. "The water levels have risen overnight, which we find very worrying," said the zoo spokeswoman.
Flood waters in the zoo continue to rise
The situation is particularly critical at the Masai Mara Lodges, where antelopes and giraffes are kept alongside huts for overnight stays. Water has already entered the stables there too. "The water is currently still below the edge of the hooves and we are filling it up with straw," said the spokesperson. In an emergency, the huge animals would have to be evacuated. "You have to think carefully about moving a giraffe. It's not entirely without danger."
The electricity had to be switched off temporarily for the entire site. The park is now using several emergency generators to heat the stables and prepare drinking water. Park employees and emergency services from the fire department and THW built temporary dams to secure the animal stables.
The Meiße River, which has burst its banks, borders the zoo. There are also several watercourses and lakes on the site that have overflowed due to the rising groundwater. The park is home to lions, rhinos, tigers and elephants, among others.
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The flooding in Lower Saxony has also affected Serengeti Park Hodenhagen, a zoo located north of Hanover. The giraffes at the Masai Mara Lodges, a section of the park, have been affected as well, with water entering their stables. Despite the efforts to fill the stables with straw to keep the water levels below the hooves, the situation remains critical and an emergency evacuation might be necessary. Serengeti Park is home to various animals such as lions, rhinos, tigers, and elephants.
Source: www.stern.de
