Some 300 animals have drowned at a Ukrainian zoo after it was flooded following the explosion of a dam in Ukraine.
The large dam in southern Ukraine collapsed early Tuesday, causing flooding, endangering crops and threatening drinking water supplies.
But as both sides in the war rushed to evacuate residents and blame each other for the destruction, hundreds of animals were left stranded to await their fate at the local Kazkova Dibrova Zoo.
Located right on the bank of the Dnipro River in Russian-occupied Kherson, the zoo used to be home to monkeys, donkeys, horses, raccoons and other animals.
The park is now completely submerged, it was reported, with only swans and ducks left.
The large dam in southern Ukraine collapsed early Tuesday, flooding the surrounding area, including the local zoo Kazkova Dibrova
Located right on the bank of the Dnipro River in Russian-occupied Kherson, the zoo used to be home to monkeys (pictured) and other animals
Dozens of species living at the zoo were killed in the flooding that followed, including goats
Located right on the bank of the Dnipro River in Russian-occupied Kherson, the zoo used to be home to monkeys, donkeys, horses, raccoons and other animals
“The park was mined and it was impossible to evacuate the animals,” said a Kazkova Dibrova Zoo spokesperson.
“We tried to save them. Every day, under fire, two workers risked their lives to go to Dibrova to feed the animals.
Now Russia has destroyed everything. Our soul is torn apart by pain.
Images of the devastation circulated on social media and people shared their horror at the hundreds of drowned creatures.
The pro-Ukrainian Twitter account Anton Gerashchenko shared images of the flood and the zoo’s residents in much happier times.
He said locals reported that the authorities – belonging to Russia as part of the occupied Nova Kakhovka region – did nothing to help save the animals.
It comes because the Kremlin-installed mayor of the occupied Kherson region (Nova Kakhovka), Vladimir Leontyev, said the water level continued to rise.
“An evacuation of civilians from the adjacent flooded areas is being carried out to save all lives,” he said in a video message. “There is no panic in the city.”
Nova Kakhovka still had electricity, but two villages downstream were taken off the grid for safety reasons, Leontyev said.
The park is now completely submerged, it was reported, with only a few birds left
About 300 of the animals drowned and died at the zoo after it was flooded following the explosion of a dam in Ukraine
The zoo, located right on the bank of the Dnipro River in Russian-occupied Kherson, was completely submerged
The zoo’s residents, including horses, donkeys and ponies, all perished in the flooding
Pro-Ukrainian Twitter account Anton Gerashchenko shared images of the flood and the zoo’s residents in much happier times
Monkeys, donkeys, horses, raccoons and other animals all perished in the floods
An emergency official next to him said the water under the dam was expected to continue to rise for 72 hours before settling and allowing for a cleanup operation.
Images posted on social media showed a flooded central square in Nova Kakhovka, with water halfway up the entry doors of the neoclassical cultural center.
Yevheniya, the female resident, said she intended to stay.
“I have a bedridden grandmother — 95 years old, she’s a World War II veteran,” she said.
‘Where should I go? Who shall I leave her to? I am her guardian and you must follow your conscience.’