Imphal, Aug. 20: The wildlife wing of the Manipur forest department closed the gates of Manipur Zoological Garden, the state’s only zoo, yesterday after floods triggered by heavy rain inundated a major stretch of this tourist destination at Eroisemba in Imphal West district.

Zoo officials today said because of heavy downpours for the past few days, flood waters flowed into 9.5 hectares inside the zoo, leading to a rapid rise in the water level.

“Though a major stretch of the zoo remains submerged, waters have spared the cages and elevated enclosures. With the footpaths for visitors inside the zoo under water, we are forced to close the gates,” range forest officer Kh. Kuber Singh said.

The zoological garden is part of the Lamphel Pat (Lamphel lake).

Water flowed into the zoo because of the overflowing lake. When this correspondent visited the zoo today the main entry gate was under water. The affected areas are located towards the eastern flank where bears, leopards and vultures are caged.

The zoo, established in the early seventies, has a total animal population of 441, including 58 endangered animals listed under Schedule I.

The total number of endangered species in the zoo is 12 and these include sangai, the most-threatened deer species, hoolock gibbon, slow loris, serow, leopard cat, hornbill and Indian rock python.