Ailing zoos should reach out to partner zoos or organizations that might be able to help,” she added. The INPARQUES, which oversees the country’s zoos, attributes the shortages on the country’s economic crash caused by a plummet in the price of oil, which is Venezuela’s primary export. “If the zoo is in imminent financial crisis, they need to take steps to provide for these animals. About 50 animals in Venezuela’s Caricuao Zoo have starved to death in the last six months due to chronic food shortages caused by the country’s economic downturn, a Telegraph report said. On Monday (Tuesday in Manila), some of Caracas zoo’s visitors even resorted to stealing horse and butchered it for meat.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 29, 2016 05:17 UTC