Venezuela's government denied on Monday that zoo animals were dying of starvation amid a national food shortage, saying they were being lovingly treated "like family." An employee gives vitamins with a syringe to a capuchin monkey at the Paraguana zoo in Punto Fijo. The official said widespread media reports of deplorable conditions for zoo animals in the recession-hit OPEC nation were part of a campaign of "lies" against the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro. A capuchin monkey eats a piece of papaya at the Paraguana zoo in Punto Fijo. Despite the minister's assurances that the Caricuao animals were healthy and adequately fed, state prosecutors are investigating the deaths of "various species of wildlife" there.

Source: Thanhnien News August 02, 2016 03:33 UTC