Calgary Zoo fully reopens after flood damage

Five months after floods devastated Calgary, the city'szoo fully reopened today.

Hundreds of grownups and children pressed up behind a purple banner as they waited for the chance to reconnect with furry, feathery, scaly and leathery animals.

• Calgary flood to cost zoo $50M
• Hippos nearly escaped Calgary Zoo during flood
• Flood-ravaged Calgary Zoo laying off almost 300 staff

A cheer went up when MayorNaheedNenshiripped through the banner that read: "Welcome Back. We're Open," to officially invite everyone back to the zoo.

"Make no mistake. It was devastation to one of the most special places in our city," saidNenshi.

"The mud, the silt, the broken buildings and the broken hearts were evident all over this island."

About a third of the zoo reopened at the end of July, but the majority of it remained closed to repair damage caused by raging floodwaters that swamped the animal park in June after torrential rains hit southern Alberta. The zoo is built on the 13-hectareSt. Georges Island east of downtown and not far from where the Bow and Elbow rivers meet.

Forty buildings, including the African Savannah exhibit, were severely hit.

Animals moved

The zoo was forced to move 160 animals to higher ground at the height of the flood. Zebras were moved to the zoo's wildlife conservation centre outside the city. Two hippos almost escaped when high water levels lifted them close to the top of their enclosure.

Giraffes that were standing up to their bellies in cold water were ailing after the flood, but recovered. Two peacocks, a pot-bellied pig and a variety of fish died.

The park sustained $50 million in damage and had to find new homes for dozens of animals, closed several buildings and laid off about 300 employees.

"Today we're so pleased to give you back your zoo, to connect you with nature and hopefully build our future conservationists," said ClementLanthier, the zoo's president and CEO.

Lanthierpaid special tribute to staff and volunteers.

"It's just amazing how they've been able to support and inspire."

Lanthier said the zoo is the talk of his colleagues around the world.

"Its just part of the fabric of the city, its a cultural institution."

• LISTEN | Zoo president on reopening:

Question of zoo's location

The zoo's location on an island became a hot matter of debate when it came to deciding whether to rebuild, Nenshi told reporters after the opening celebration.

"What we have here is partially some basic math," said Nenshi.

"If we can build a berm and protect the zoo from future flooding events for $10 million, instead of spending hundreds and hundreds of millions moving and re-establishing the entire thing, does that make sense?"

"And the second important part is this is a special part of the city and we cannot let our fear of the water control everything we do in the city."

Nenshi,who isworking on the 2014 budget with city council, said more city money needs to be spent on flood mitigation projects.

"We've still got a couple of big resiliency projects that we have to do, including the [$10 million]berm around the zoo,so we're going to have to find other funding for that."

The zoo usually receives 1.3 million visitors a year. It estimates it lost $160,000 a day in revenue.

MonicaWiersmaand her four-year-old daughterEmiliewere thrilled to be able to visit the animals once again.

"The zoo is one of her favourite places to come when she's not in school and it's something we sometimes do twice a month," saidWiersma.

"She has really missed not being here for the last five months."