Zoo animals roam the streets after torrential flooding

Alex Cnossen

Alex Cnossen Jun 28, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Zoo animals roam the streets after torrential flooding</h1>
                <h2><p>At least 12 people are dead and 24 people missing in Tbilisi, Georgia following a weekend of heavy flooding, the New York Times reports.

Authorities urged residents to stay indoors after an unknown number of lions, hippos, bears and other wild animals escaped to roam the streets. The Daily Mail</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/alex-cnossen-crosscut-com/">Alex Cnossen</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>At least 12 people are dead and 24 people missing in Tbilisi, Georgia following a weekend of heavy flooding, the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/15/world/europe/zoo-animals-on-the-loose-in-tbilisi-after-flooding.html?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">New York Times reports</a>.</p><p>Authorities urged residents to stay indoors after an unknown number of lions, hippos, bears and other wild animals escaped to roam the streets. The <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3124318/Please-don-t-shoot-animals-unless-attacking-man-Flooded-Tbilisi-zoo-begs-police-not-kill-escaped-beasts-despite-warnings-getting-hungry.html?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">Daily Mail is reporting </a>that some bears, wolves and tigers had been shot or died, but authorities were still trying to find out about three other tigers, four lions and a jaguar that escaped. A hippo was safely returned to the zoo after being tranquilized.</p>
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At least 12 people are dead and 24 people missing in Tbilisi, Georgia following a weekend of heavy flooding, the New York Times reports.

Authorities urged residents to stay indoors after an unknown number of lions, hippos, bears and other wild animals escaped to roam the streets. The Daily Mail is reporting that some bears, wolves and tigers had been shot or died, but authorities were still trying to find out about three other tigers, four lions and a jaguar that escaped. A hippo was safely returned to the zoo after being tranquilized.

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By Alex Cnossen

Alex Cnossen is a Northwest native and has worked for several local publications, including KOMO, KIRO and KING-TV. He grew up in Portland and loves to run and write. Follow him on Twitter @CnossenAle