AFTER THE FLOODS: An excavator removes a dead bear at the zoo in Tbilisi, Georgia, on June 17. Tigers, lions, bears and wolves were among more than 30 animals that escaped from a Georgian zoo and onto the streets of the capital Tbilisi on Sunday during floods that killed at least 12 people. Photo by Reuters
By Steff Gaulter
You’ve probably heard the expression, “It’s raining cats and dogs”, but in Georgia it wasn’t domestic pets that fell from the skies. After torrential rain in the Caucasian country, lions, tigers and even a hippopotamus were spotted wandering the streets.
A hippopotamus may look like a rather chubby cow, but it’s considered to be the most dangerous animal in Africa. To have that, or a predatory big cat, on the loose is frankly terrifying, even for those of us living in Doha where people have all kinds of strange animals as pets. I have personally seen a monkey sitting on a car’s wing mirror outside Jarir Bookstore and a cheetah poking its head out of a Landcruiser on Al Waab. While these events may have been unnerving, at least both of the animals were under some kind of control and used to human interaction. The same cannot be said for the wild animals which were on the loose in Georgia.
A few weeks ago, you may remember that the Weather Addict focused on some little creatures that had fallen out of the sky in Norway. A storm had not only brought heavy rain, but also some wriggling worms, which were still alive when they hit the ground. While it is possible for a large wind to lift a tiny worm, you’ll no doubt be pleased to know that the big beasts in Georgia weren’t deposited by a storm. Clearly it would have to be a very impressive wind to have any impact whatsoever on a 3,000kg (7,000 lb) hippopotamus! Instead, these wild animals escaped onto the streets after torrential rain triggered flooding.
Georgia is a very mountainous country and the Caucasus Mountains, which mark the border between Georgia and Russia, are the highest mountains in Europe. Whether that makes Georgia part of Europe or Asia seems to be a matter of debate, as some believe that the Caucasus Mountains signify the end of Europe, which would put Georgia in Asia; whereas other people believe that the whole Caucasus region, including Georgia, is in Europe. Certainly this is where most Georgians feel it belongs.
Whichever continent Georgia lies in, the towering mountains ensure there is a real risk of flash flooding. When heavy rain falls on a flat landscape, like Qatar, then the water collects in dips and troughs, but the surface water is generally quite spread out and shallow. In more mountainous areas, the water will race downhill, speeding down the sides of the mountain. As this water is funnelled into valleys, it can form rapid torrents which can start suddenly and gain immense power as it hurtles down the mountains.
Some of the peaks in Georgia have snow on them throughout the year, but of course as winter comes to an end, there is a good deal of snow that begins to melt. If there is a sudden change in the temperature a large volume of snow can melt simultaneously and the rivers will struggle to deal with the sudden increase of water. Ideally the snow will melt gradually, but even then, spring is a time of year when the river levels are very high.
The river levels remain high into the beginning of summer, partially due to the melting snow, but also due to the weather. May and June are the wettest months in Georgia. This rain fills the rivers and also saturates the landscape.
Unfortunately it’s this saturated landscape that can often cause problems. The waterlogged slopes are hazardous and liable to give way, and unfortunately this is what happened after the torrential rain of June 13. A huge avalanche of mud and rocks hurtled down the mountainside, blocking the path of the Vere River. Due to the time of year, the waters of the river were already high, so the blockage quickly caused the river to burst its banks. The water inundated parts of the city, destroying dozens of buildings and cars. A number of people lost their lives and many families were left homeless.
Tbilisi Zoo and a dog shelter were on the banks of the Vere River and felt the full force of the surging water. Numerous animals drowned, but a few managed to escape. Lions, tigers, hippos and wolves all roamed the streets whilst locals tried to flee their waterlogged homes.
As the clear up operation began, so did the hunt for the animals. The hippopotamus was tranquillised and captured, two bear cubs were found in a park and a crocodile was seen swimming down a street. There were reports that a number of the big cats couldn’t be captured and had to be killed.
It must have been both daunting and bizarre for the locals to have to navigate the muddy streets, not knowing if a lion was going to greet them at the next corner. At least in the desert landscape of Qatar, when we see craziness on the streets, it’s more likely to be a Landcruiser than a crocodile!
