A gloomy atmosphere took over the Imo State Zoo in Owerri over an alleged relocation of the facility’s animals to Jos, Plateau.

A visit to the zoo at about 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, showed members of staff watching as persons alleged to have come from Jos took the animals away.

Some of the staffers protested the efforts of the visitors, lamenting non-payment of their salaries for a period of 10 months.

They wondered why the zoo, which is the lone zoo in the South-East geopolitical zone, would be emptied without adequate explanations from the authorities.

A staff who pleaded anonymity said, “This is the only zoo in the southeast. The only means of preserving wildlife in the entire geopolitical zone. It beats my imagination that this has to happen.”

Another member of staff said: “We have not been paid for 10 months. Since we weren’t paid while we kept the animals, who knows what will become of us now that the animals are no more ?”

The Zoo Keeper, Nkiruka Onyeagocha, who declined comments, however, watched rather gloomily as the animals were taken away.

There was a heavy presence of armed policemen at the zoo as the animals were taken away using trapping equipment.

Some of the animals being taken away included ostriches, three lions, hyenas and pythons among others.

(NAN)