Venezuela's Food Crisis- Zoo Animals Severely Malnourished and in Need of Help

A malnourished puma in Venezuela's Zulia Metropolitan Zoo

Venezuela is in the grip of a food crisis, which has had a tremendous impact on the health of the local people. However, it is not just people who have been affected by the crisis. It has recently been reported that the animals of San Francisco's Zulia Metropolitan Zoo have been affected the crisis, with several species suffering from serious malnutrition. These include carnivores such as two pumas, an African lion, a Bengal tiger, a jaguar, ocelots, and birds of prey. The impact of the food crisis has forced the zoo to close down in mid-February and its workers to sacrifice ducks, goats, and pigs to feed the animals. According to one caretaker, the big cats should eat 8% and 10% of their weight per day. But due to the food shortage, they are now forced eat that amount once a week. The zoo's management admitted the awful situation and blamed it not only on food scarcity, but also lack of budget and inflation. Among the birds of prey affected by the crisis included a captive-born male and female Andean condor, which were transported to the zoo as part of a reproductive program to save the species from extinction. Both have gone weeks without being provided enough food. Others included two crested caracaras and a pair of owls, which were so starved that they ate other birds of prey in their respectable enclosures. After the situation cropped up, Dirwings Arrieta, the mayor of San Francisco, announced that the zoo would be reconstructed, indicating that authorities have started to repair the water system and increase the workers' wages. However, he did not make reference to malnourishment. Actor and philanthropist Raul Julia-Levy stated that his foundation, Flaunt My Pet LLC, stated that he was willing to help by addressing President Nicolas Maduro in a Twitter message. Dr. Carlos Silva, the zoo's veterinarian of 13 years, however, is not confident about the future of Venezuela's zoos.

An undernourished tiger in Zulia Metropolitan Zoo.

I find it extremely disturbing that Venezuela has been badly hit by a food crisis. This situation is not just affecting the health of people, but also zoo animals. Some of these animals include a breeding pair of Andean condors, which were brought to the facility as part of a reproductive program to save the species from extinction. This food crisis is a huge hurdle affecting conservation efforts to save the Andean condor and I think it is a high time to act upon it. I also find it very frustrating and unacceptable that Mayor Arrieta failed to acknowledge the undernourishment of the animals. This does not sit well with the people San Francisco, who come to the zoo to see the animals with their families. I urge the governments of South America and other countries to help Venezuela in this critical time by providing not just food for the people, but also proper medical care. In addition, I strongly urge Venezuela, its neighbors, and other countries to not neglect the health of the animals at the Zulia Metropolitan Zoo. These animals are in a dire need of help like Venezuela's people and it is extremely essential to do something.

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