Imo zoo: Govt relocates wild animals to Jos, as staffers mount protest over removal

VICTOR DURUAMAKU, Owerri

Members of staff of the Imo state government-owned zoo, the only surviving zoo in the South East geo-political zone, last Saturday mounted a protest against the sudden relocation of the animals in the zoo.

The protesting staffers said, “we are also demanding the payment of our 10 months’ salary arrears owed us.”

A member of the staff who pleaded anonymity told journalists who visited the zoo at the time the animals were being taken away by the officials of the plateau zoo in Jos reported that the Owerri zoo is the only surviving zoo in Nigeria’s South East.

The aggrieved staff said that the Owerri zoo, popularly called, “Nekede zoo” is the only means of preserving wildlife in the zone and that it beats the imagination that the present administration in the state approved the present development at the zoo.

Other members of the staff who tried to obstruct the evacuation of the animals reported that they were being owed salary arrears of 10 months and wondered “now that the animals have been removed, what would be our fate?”

However, the Nekede zoo keeper, Nkiru Onyeagocha reported she was not comfortable with the development and watched as the animals were removed and taken away by the people from Jos.

Some of the animals taken away included Ostriches, three lions, hyenas and pythons among other wild animals.