By Rich McKay (Reuters) -As millions of people were under evacuation orders along Florida's Gulf Coast, the African elephants, Caribbean flamingos, pigmy hippos and about 1,000 other animals are riding out the monstrous Hurricane Milton at Tampa's zoo.

"Nothing bothers them," Burns said, even as Hurricane Milton is described by forecasters as a catastrophic and potentially deadly storm. She said there was no need to put animals in trailers and haul them to other zoos or sanctuaries.

It’s not just the human residents of the Tampa area who’ve been told to ready for Hurricane Milton: the furry and four-legged locals at the city zoo are also relocating to storm-proof quarters.