Animals at the Imo State Zoological Garden, Nekede were at the weekend relocated to an unknown destination in preparation for the conversion of the large expanse of land housing the animals to a housing estate by the Imo State Government.. The action kind of confirmed the speculation of a budding housing estate there.

A truck and trapping equipment were brought to the wild life centre at about 2pm to convey the animals to their new homes which was not certain.

Acting Manager of the zoo, Nkiru Onyeagocha, was seen supervising the trapping of the animals at the zoo with heavy police presence.

When contacted for her reaction to the ,  relocation, Onyeagocha said she can’t speak on the matter. She rather referred our correspondent to the Commissioner for Tourism.

Meanwhile, staff of the zoo who were not happy about the development, protested against their ten-month salaries allegedly owed to them by the state government.

The angry staff, despite the heavy police presence, made effort to prevent the relocation of the animals. It was gathered that those relocating the animals came from Jos Zoological Garden.

Concerns are being expressed how most state governors in the Southeast are neglecting tourism. “Our children do not have zoological gardens to visit anymore”, a worried Southesterner lamented to Drumnewsonline. It would be recalled that the Enugu State Government under the leadership of Dr Chimaroke Nnamani several years ago closed down the Enugu zoological garden and converted it to an estate which it has remained till date. The government claims that it was going to relocate the garden to Nike never materialised. The live animals were disposed off in questionable circumstances.

Source: Drumnewsonline with reports from The Sun