Prague's flood-ravaged riverside zoo reopens
Date: 10-Sep-02
Country: CZECH REPUBLIC
Zoo officials said the heavy death toll caused by the rushing waters - 135 birds, an elephant, two hippos, a lion, a seal and a gorilla - was still apparent from the many empty cages across the site.
Some animals have yet to be returned to the riverside zoo because of stress from the flooding.
"We hope visitors will understand that they will not be able to tour the entire zoo grounds...(but) really, we need to return to normal life," zoo spokesman Vit Kahle said.
A Reuters reporter at the zoo said few people were passing through the turnstiles on Sunday. Officials said fewer than 1,000 visitors, a fraction of the usual attendance, showed up on Saturday.
In the worst flooding in Prague's history, water levels rose faster and higher than forecast, so zoo officials tried to evacuate hundreds of terrified animals.
But the operation went less than smoothly. In particular, the death of a 35-year-old Indian elephant called Kadir, a star in many Czech films, drew international attention.
The elephant's handlers were forced to put Kadir down to avert certain death by drowning when he was trapped in his pen.
