CARACAS, June 1 (Reuters) – A few white lions arrived at a Venezuelan zoo very last 7 days right after an ocean-crossing voyage originating in Europe, part of a bid to strengthen website visitors at a loved ones-helpful funds attraction and a modest signal of economic recovery for the crisis-racked country.
The zoo’s modern advancement marks a unusual bright location amid a prolonged economic meltdown, giving even some poorer family members with a flavor for exotic animals an reasonably priced tour as young children enter for free of charge and adult tickets price tag $1.
The two-year-outdated lions, a feminine and two males, lazily yawned or paced the size of their cages on a recent check out, housed briefly in small pens with concrete flooring and piles of straw.
Sign up now for Cost-free limitless access to Reuters.com
“For Venezuelans that do not have the economic implies to travel significantly way to see these animals up close, this is definitely important,” explained Caracas’ Caricuao Zoo official Bernardo Pereira, accountable for supplying the huge cats their everyday meals of refreshing meat and bones to chew up.
The rare white lions at the moment weigh about 120 kilos (265 lbs) every and were transported from a Czech Republic zoo.
Indigenous to southern Africa, the majestic mammals are credited with attracting about 8,000 visitors final Sunday, a 4-fold spike compared to past weekends, according to zoo coordinator Jesus Hidalgo.
The trio will stay quarantined by means of the end of this thirty day period or early July before they are moved to greater show areas with trees and vegetation.
Late very last year, the Caricuao Zoo also welcomed three wallabies, two of which are albinos read far more . Giraffes could be extra later this calendar year, stated Pereira.
With the lions’ arrival, who have yet to be provided names, the zoo boasts more than 300 animals from a few dozen distinctive species such as primates, reptiles and other felines.
Sign-up now for Free unlimited accessibility to Reuters.com
Reporting by Vivian Sequera Producing by Carolina Pulice Editing by David Alire Garcia and Sandra Maler
Our Requirements: The Thomson Reuters Believe in Concepts.