Tbilisi Zoo enjoys first good news since fatal flood

Tbilisi Zoo is enjoying its first good news since the June 13 devastating flash flood, which killed 19 people and dozens of animals and destroyed much of the Zoo territory and nearby residences.

A rare breed of deer was born in the stricken Zoo yesterday, bringing happiness to Zoo staff, volunteers and experts clearing the site.

The new born deer and her Mom are in good health. Photo by Tbilisi Zoo. 

The newborn creature was given the name ‘Pyrrha’, which derived from ancient Greek mythology.

According to Greek myth, Pyrrha and her husband Deucalion were the only people who survived a flood, sent by Zeus to punish mankind for its wickedness. The couple then gave a birth to the new generation of mankind.

"And we believe that our Pyrrha too will be the beginning of the creation of a new zoo,” said a Zoo spokesperson. Tbilisi Zoo lost three staff and half of its animals in the flood.

Meanwhile the newborn deer was a Cervus elaphus maral, the rarest breed of ruminant in Georgia. This breed was on the verge of extinction and the Georgian Red List classified it as a critically endangered breed.

If you want to donate and help Tbilisi Zoo to recover after the desaster of June 13 go to this link. 

Meanwhile, this is Beggy, a Tbilisi Zoo hippo, who made headlines when she escaped from the Zoo and roamed Tbilisi streets during the flood. The Zoo administration said she was in good health and temporarily lived in an elephant's enclosure as her own enclosure was destroyed in the flood. Photo by Tbilisi Zoo.