Tierpark Zittau, a zoo in eastern Saxony, has been severely flooded on Saturday. Donations are urgently needed.
Upon unusually heavy rain, floods from the River Neiße devastated nearly the entire area of Tierpark Zittau on Saturday. Within 10 minutes the water level rose up to one meter. After 30 minutes up to two and a half meters had been reached. Staff of the zoo struggled hard to save as many animals as possible, but could not prevent that some animals lost their lives. Ten llamas, one horse, an armadillo and even a macaw as well as some owls drowned. Most of them had been well-known animal personalities in the region around Zittau.
„Most animals panicked, while trees broke down“, described the Tierpark's director Bernd Großer the dramatic situation. After 14 hours amongst deep water the Bactrian camel "Mustafa" had still to be pulled out of its enclosure with a strong leash and a heavy vehicle at the other end.
Damage to buildings and enclosures is tremendous though not yet evaluated. The Minister-President of Saxony, Stanislaw Tillich, visited the Tierpark in order to get an impression of the desaster. On Monday the water level was still about 1,5 meters. On Tuesday the Technical Aid Service began to pump out water from the large sinks in the surface.
The remaining animals are now safely housed. Part of them has temporarily been transferred to Tierpark Görlitz. Some other animals have been given into the care of private persons.
The German Association of Animal Parks (Deutsche Tierpark-Gesellschaft, DTG) would like to ask for your generous support. A donation account for the rebuilding of animal enclosures and zoo infrastructure has been set up:
Deutsche Tierpark-Gesellschaft
Kontonummer: 10 41 77 001
Bankleitzahl: 800 636 48
Volks- und Raiffeisenbank Saale-Unstrut eG
(BIC GEN0DEF1NMB, IBAN DE58800636480104177001)
Tierpark Zittau had to be closed for visitors for the time being.
