Photos: Duluth seals, bear moved to Como Zoo
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The harbor seal that made headlines for being photographed after escaping from the Lake Superior Zoo during the torrential rain and flooding that inundated Duluth has a new, temporary home.
Along with another seal and a polar bear displaced by the disaster, it will be taking up residence at the Como Park Zoo in St. Paul. The seal went on display at 10 a.m. Thursday.
The Lake Superior Zoo was badly damaged by severe flooding. The polar bear and the seals temporarily escaped from their enclosures. They weren't injured, but zoo officials say most barnyard animals and some birds died in the flood.
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Northeast Minnesota Floods
• Map: Duluth, North Shore flooding
• Closures: Highways, Duluth streets, state parks
• Photos: Duluth, northeast Minnesota awash
• Photos: Gooseberry Falls at full trottle
• Photos: The wake of the flood
• Story: Some zoo animals perish, others rescued
• Story: Cell phone, 911, cable out in Arrowhead
• Story: Rural areas cut off
Como Zoo spokesperson Matt Reinartz says the St. Paul zoo was eager to help.
"We were in contact with the Lake Superior Zoo for much of the day yesterday, and when it was determined that it'd be in the best interests of the animals to send them down to Como Zoo, we were ready to jump into action," he said. "We traveled up to Duluth yesterday afternoon, late evening, actually, and got the animals and brought them back."
Reinartz says it's unclear how long the animals will need to stay at the zoo. The Como Zoo is already caring for several animals displaced by a flood last year at a Minot, North Dakota zoo.
