Hurricane Irma: How Will Florida’s Zoo Animals Survive the Storm?

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As Hurricane Irma approaches, evacuations from South Florida are underway. But nearly 3,000 animals at Zoo Miami are also in the path of the storm, and can’t leave. NBC’s Kerry Sanders reports for TODAY on the final preparations to keep them safe.

Hurricane Irma's powerful winds began hitting the Florida Keys on Saturday, many animals — including howler monkeys, dingoes and turtles — were safely tucked away in their shelters or elsewhere.

Aldabra tortoises at the Palm Beach Zoo. Palm Beach Zoo

Zoos and conservation centers in South Florida moved their animals to safety earlier in the week as forecasts for the Sunshine State grew increasingly dire.

At the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society in West Palm Beach, workers began moving smaller animals into facilities that doubled as hurricane shelters on Wednesday morning, said its communications director, Naki Carter.

“We are prepared for the worst and hopeful for the best," Carter said. "We are preparing for a Category 5 to make direct impact with our zoo."

Florida zoos, wildlife centers hunker down as Hurricane Irma takes aim

 

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If they have prepared for a category 5 they should be fine.

 

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Interesting story on just this subject
http://miami.cbslocal.com/2017/09/07/animals-hurricane-irma-zoos-aquariums-miami/

 

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The zoo has more than 150 animals, 30 percent of which had been relocated by Thursday evening, Carter said. Among them were birds and smaller mammals.

Animals considered more dangerous will be kept in secure houses made of concrete, the statement said, adding that such animals survived the devastating Hurricane Andrew 25 years ago unharmed.

Carter said the zoo had about 10 days of food for most animals, with about a month’s worth for larger animals. The zoo had also made arrangements to get additional food after the storm passes, she said.

The foundation was prepared to bring smaller animals indoors before Irma hits, while larger animals may have to ride out the storm outdoors, Reillo said.
The zoo’s tiger, jaguar, bear and Komodo dragon populations would be staying put, she said, because their habitats already double as hurricane shelters.

“They will be locked inside of those shelters before the storm comes,” she said, adding that the zoo’s six-person storm team would monitor Irma from the Animal Care Center, the facility's largest hurricane shelter


"We have large African antelope here, and unfortunately they cannot be caught up and put in small spaces," he said. "They're out in their environment, and hopefully they’ll hunker down and be fine."

Reillo said many zoos and centers don't have the space or expertise to evacuate animals that need special care, especially endangered species.