German zoo may have to feed animals to each other for survival

Due to Coronavirus pandemic, Zoos that should be full of people during the sunny Easter holidays are now moneyless and asking for donations.

A director of the zoo in northern Germany has agreed that to keep the zoo alive, some animals will soon have to be fed to other animals.

Neumünster Zoo's Verena Kaspari told Die Welt that "We've listed the animals we'll have to slaughter first."

Berlin Zoo has baby panda twins, but their fans can only view them online.

Zoo spokeswoman Philine Hachmeister told the DPA news agency that "Panda twins are very sweet."
"We constantly think 'visitors should watch them live'. We don't want Little Panda to grow up until we finally reopen."

Animals survival and hunger

Ms. Kaspari at Neumünster Zoo said Killing some animals so that others can survive will be the last shelter and "displeasing", but that will also not find a solution to the financial problem.

Seals and penguins require a large amount of fresh fish daily, she pointed out.

"If it comes to this, I have to euthanize some of the animals instead of letting them starve," said Ms. Kaspari.

At last, "we would have to provide some of the animals to each other."

Ms. Kasapri Zoo is an organization not covered by the state emergency fund for small occupations.
She believes that Zoo's revenue loss this spring will be around £ 175,000 (£ 152,400).

According to the DPA reports, in addition to a direct appeal for public donations, the zoo in Germany is jointly requesting government support for € 100m.

The National Zoological Association of Germany (VDZ) argues that the zoo, unlike many other organizations, cannot go into hibernation and reduce costs. Animals still need to be fed and cared for daily.

VDZ Chief Jorg Junhold said the turnover lost in the lockdown cost about € 500,000 a week about a typical German zoo.

One of Vienna's top attractions, "Schönbrunn Zoo" says It can manage time by drawing on existing savings.

But on April 1, it sent 70% of his 230 employees to three-month leave - sending them home for job security.

Animals are also missing humans in zoos

Some zoos have also warned that crises are costly for some animals, as they usually miss the attention they get from people.

Mrs. Hatchmeister at the Berlin Zoo said: "apes especially love to watch people".

He said that seals and parrots are also gets attracted to visitors, and it's really boring for them now.

Last week, the Moscow Zoo also said that its two big pandas were "missing something now."

"They have started to get more actively closer to every single person that passes through the backyard of their home."