Calgary Zoo staff risked life to stop a hippo from escaping during flood

CALGARY – Calgary Zoo staff risked their lives over the weekend to stop a hippo from escaping into the swollen Bow River.

Director of animal care, conservation and research, Jack Veasey, says flood waters in the hippos’ enclosure rose high enough during the floods for the dangerous herbivores to swim out.

One hippo named Lobi was feeling particularly adventurous and was moving freely around the African Savannah building.

Veasey had to break a window to get into the building and he swam in the muddy flood waters to find the animal.

Zoo staff used cinder blocks and construction equipment to block Lobi inside the building.

The zoo’s giraffes were up to their bellies in water and have not been coping well with the cold and stress.