Duluth flooding sets zoo seal free downtown [PHOTOS]
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| Downtown Duluth is no place for seals. |
The Lake Superior Zoo is one of the hardest-hit victims of the torrential rainfall and subsequent flooding that has the Duluth area on lockdown today.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, the zoo's Polar Shores exhibit, which housed seals and a polar bear, has been completely flooded out. The zoo's polar bear, Berlin, had to be tranquilized after she left her exhibit in the ensuing chaos. One of the seals, meanwhile, swam out of the exhibit and made a break for downtown Duluth (a photo of the seal on the loose is below the jump). After a night on the town, it was safety returned to the zoo.
Many other animals, however, drowned as a result of the flooding. For instance, staff say that all but one of the zoo's barnyard animals -- including donkeys, goats, and sheep -- have died. Flooding also consumed the zoo's raven and vulture cases, though the condition of those animals wasn't immediately known.
Peter Pruett, the zoo's director of animal management, said, "obviously, our entire staff is devastated."According to the Duluth News Tribune, the zoo's Polar Shores exhibit, which housed seals and a polar bear, has been completely flooded out. The zoo's polar bear, Berlin, had to be tranquilized after she left her exhibit in the ensuing chaos. One of the seals, meanwhile, swam out of the exhibit and made a break for downtown Duluth (a photo of the seal on the loose is below the jump). After a night on the town, it was safety returned to the zoo.
Many other animals, however, drowned as a result of the flooding. For instance, staff say that all but one of the zoo's barnyard animals -- including donkeys, goats, and sheep -- have died. Flooding also consumed the zoo's raven and vulture cases, though the condition of those animals wasn't immediately known.
Courtesy of Ellie Burcar (via Kyle Matteson's Twitter account), here's a photo of the wild-eyed seal crossing Grand Avenue:
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See also:
-- Minnesota's average low temperature rose faster than any other state's since 1970, says new study
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