Beglar the hippo awaits refurbished pool at Tbilisi Zoo

Beglar the hippo awaits refurbished pool at Tbilisi Zoo - zoo reopened after June flooding

The devastating floods of June 13, 2015, will be long remembered for the death of 19 people and more than 300 animals at the Tbilisi Zoo in Georgia, which was completely destroyed. Three months after the tragedy, the Zoo reopened its gates on September 14.

Zoo caretaker Guiliko Kontselidze Chitadze died during the floods – soon after returning to work after surviving a tiger attack when she went into the cage to retrieve a boy’s toy. Her arm was mauled and it had to be amputated. She returned to the zoo two days before the flooding. She died with her husband, Malkhaz, who was also employed at the zoo, and employee, Givi Dvali.

The Tbilisi Zoo and the Tamaz Elizbarashvili Dog Shelter were destroyed, leading to many zoo animals drowning or escaping into the city streets. Houses nearby were also destroyed. About half of the zoo’s animals were missing, including tigers, lions, bears, and wolves. Twenty lions, tigers, and jaguars died. The hippopotamus, Beglar, was found near Heroes Square. He was tranquilized with a dart gun and taken back to the zoo in good health. In fact, he was the star of the foreign media.

Animals housed in the upper part of the zoo all survived. These included the ungulates, the white lions, and the leopards. All of the surviving animals are display since the reopening – many are sharing accommodation with other species. I visited the zoo today.

The zoo was completely destroyed. During the past three months, partner zoos from several countries have assisted Tbilisi Zoo to restock. Only the upper section of the zoo is opened – which includes the reptile house, birds (vultures, eagles, penguins, and pheasants), yaks, horses, zebra, eland, goats, deer, elephants, lions, a panther, and Beglar the hippopotamus – who is sharing with two Asian elephants.

The zoo now has more construction workers than animals. A new open range zoo on about 47 hectares is planned to be built out of the city area, at the Tbilisi Reservoir (Tbilisi Sea). But that’s year’s into the future. For now, restoring and restocking is taking place. And Beglar stands watching the construction of his pool.

Beglar is still in good health. He was enjoying a morning meal of potatoes and cabbage.

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