Even as millions of people continue to reel under floods across Bihar, the menace has now cast its spell over animals in the Patna Zoo. Three cages housing rhinoceros have been inundated with dirty water after people of a nearby village broke the boundary wall of the zoo to save themselves. Zoo authorities have pressed four water pumps to drain out the water, but the volume of water gushing in is much higher than what is being pumped out. “The situation is bad. So far only the rhinos have been affected but it could spread to other animals too if the water continues to flow in at the same rate,” zoo director Rakesh Kumar told The Indian Express. Patna Zoo is home to 10 rhinos—the highest number in any zoo in the country. Though rhinos can stay in water, but only for short stints. “They need both water and dry land to move around. They can’t stay in water forever,” said Kumar. Further zoo officials said they are scared of infection spreading among animals due to the dirty water. Water started entering the zoo from Wednesday night when people from nearby Kaushalnagar area allegedly broke a portion of the boundary wall to drain rain water flooding their locality. Zoo authorities have even lodged an FIR in this connection. Meanwhile, 11 more deaths have been reported from different flood affected areas of the state taking the death toll to 311.
