Since Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida earlier this week, photographs of the devastation have been shared on social media – as have the rescue efforts. It is not simply the individuals of Florida who’ve wanted rescuing, as a lot of our four-legged buddies additionally required some assist.

“Saving Animals From Hurricane Ian. Animal Victory has a nonprofit fund particularly for animals in crises and disasters; 90 cents of each greenback goes in direction of getting the animals rescued and reunited,” tweeted advocacy group Animal Victory (@animal_victory), which shared photographs of its efforts.

The Clearwater Aquarium (@CMAquarium) additionally introduced this week that its inhabitants have been doing properly, tweeting, “CMA weathered Hurricane Ian with minor damages. Our employees and our animals are all doing properly! CMA’s efforts will now shift to serving to animals within the wild affected by the hurricane. Our rescue staff will help our stranding community and group of companions.”

Hunker Down

Even earlier than the storm made landfall, Floridians have been warned to be conscious of animals that could possibly be looking for shelter from the storm together with alligators and snakes. Nevertheless, different animals had been given a serving to hand.

That included the well-known flamingos from Sunken Backyard, a botanical park positioned in exhausting hit St. Petersburg. Photos have been trending of round a dozen cotton-candy pink flamingos huddled in a public lavatory.

“We’re hunkered down! Our animals are secure w/employees on web site to see them by means of the storm. The flamingos are having a hurricane social gathering within the lavatory; consuming, consuming, & dancing. Keep secure on the market!,” @SunkenGardens tweeted.

The self-described botanical paradise within the midst of a bustling metropolis additionally posted through its Instagram account, “We’re hunkered down and hoping for the most effective for all in hurricane Ian’s path-including all of the animals. Our flamingos, tortoises, and different unique birds are secure and sound with employees on web site to observe them all through the storm. The flamingos are having fairly the hurricane social gathering; consuming, consuming, and dancing whereas the Brazilian red-footed tortoises like to snuggle on their solution to bigger indoor lodging.”

Birds In Loos (Once more)

The photograph of the flamingos within the park’s lavatory was quickly in comparison with a now iconic picture that was taken 30 years in the past simply earlier than Hurricane Andrew, a Class 5 storm, struck South Florida. That picture from third a long time in the past made the rounds worldwide in an period properly earlier than social media!

“Of the numerous photographs I’ve captured in my life, none is extra iconic than this one. I can not consider it has been 30 years since Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida. I will always remember capturing this picture of the zoos flamingos huddled within the women restroom for defense,” Ron Magill (@RonMagill), the Metrozoo photographer and now the communications director at Zoo Miami, tweeted in August – doubtless not anticipating related photographs could be seen only a month later!

An analogous picture of Flamingos in a rest room was taken once more in September 1999 as Hurricane Floyd approached Miami.

As again then, public restrooms once more proved to be ideally suited as “chicken bunkers,” as they’re sturdy and windowless. Thus it hasn’t been stunning to see the hashtag #BirdsinBathrooms making the rounds once more. Different birds of a feather hunkered collectively in Florida bogs.

Some Floridians additionally needed to get artistic to search out safety for his or her animals. That included chickens in a bathe!

“Let this be your reminder to deliver ALL of your pets inside like Stephanie Fletcher did in Tampa!,” tweeted information channel 10 Tampa Bay (@TampaBay).

It seems that many of those animals could have had a better time using out the storm than the individuals of Florida. Let’s hope they and the individuals of the Sunshine State can count on a fast restoration.