New York:

A sea lion swam exterior its enclosure at a New York zoo on Friday as heavy rain flooded her pool. She explored the world exterior earlier than returning to its pool to the corporate of different sea lions, authorities mentioned.

It didn’t escape the zoo and such claims are deceptive, clarified the police and zoo authorities.

The Central Park Zoo reported the incident on a day a flash flood partially crippled town’s subway community, airports and site visitors actions.

“The water levels have receded, and the animals are contained in their exhibit,” mentioned a press release by Jim Breheny, government vice chairman of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)’s Zoos and Aquarium.

No employees or guests have been at risk and the ocean lion remained contained in the zoo, by no means breaching the zoo’s secondary perimeter, it mentioned, including that the WCS shut its 4 zoos and aquariums to give attention to the animals in the course of the storm.

The New York Police Department warned about “inaccurate” claims that animals had escaped the zoo amid flooding.

🚨 ZOO UPDATE:
There are a number of movies circulating on-line about flooding & escaped zoo animals. These movies are deceptive & inaccurate.

All sea lions & animals are accounted for & protected on the @centralparkzoo. The zoo stays closed as a result of heavy rain & flooding. pic.twitter.com/g9RCADJDG8

— NYPD Central Park (@NYPDCentralPark) September 29, 2023

“There are several videos circulating online about flooding and escaped zoo animals. These videos are misleading and inaccurate. All sea lions and animals are accounted for and safe at the Central Park Zoo. The zoo remains closed due to the heavy rain and flooding,” it mentioned on X (previously Twitter).