By Jack Graham
One of South London’s biggest family attractions needs you to help it survive the latest lockdown.
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is appealing for public support as they face their third forced closure during the coronavirus lockdown.
The zoo has organised a crowdfunder page to fund the essential upkeep of the animals until visitors can return.
Feeding them – and the staff – has been funded by supporters of the zoo, but it must cover daily running costs without its primary source of income.
Keeper Jamie Baker said: “It’s been a rollercoaster of a year for zoos.
“Our first crowdfunder contributed to us surviving the first lockdown. We were then very strict on spending when we reopened to ensure we had the security if it happened again, never thinking it would happen twice more.”
Zookeepers are working non-stop to ensure the animals are still cared for.
This includes providing a balanced diet of vegetables, fruits, pellet feeds, meat and fish, as well as clean bedding.
More than £150 is needed every day for essential feeding, and £25,000 on every month for all operations.
The zoo cares for 50 species of animals and is home for many mammals, birds and reptiles including a number of critically endangered species such as the cotton-top tamarin, Bali starlings, Scottish wildcats and lemur.
Zookeepers educate thousands of schoolchildren a year about the zoo’s different animals, including conservation efforts that the zoo manages.
The education programme would expect to teach more than 8,500 children a year about their crucial conservation work.
Staff are also part of vital European breeding programmes to help conservation efforts and stave off the threat of extinction for many species.
Its hedgehog reintroduction programme breeds one of Britain’s favourite wild species, to combat their dwindling numbers.
Mr Baker said: “The Government’s response has been appalling. Of the 300 UK zoos, just 25 have been able to access the £100million zoo fund.
“And unfortunately, we have not been eligible as you need to be 12 weeks from bankruptcy to be considered which just isn’t an option for us.”
Paula Walker, Labour’s community spokeswoman on Wandsworth council, said: “Battersea Children’s Zoo has brought joy to thousands of children in the area. I’ve taken my own kids many times over the years.
“It is tragic that the zoo has been prevented from applying for funds that appear to be encouraging bankruptcy, as opposed to saving it from financial ruin.”
A Defra spokeswoman said: “We understand the challenges faced by zoos and aquariums during these unprecedented times, but we have come to a critical juncture and must work together to get the rate of infection down – all animal attractions are now closed as they are not an essential reason to leave your home.”
Battersea Park Children’s Zoo will be running a prize draw as a thank you to the public’s generosity.
For every £10 donated you will be entered into a draw to win prizes such as wallaby encounters, keeper experiences, zoo tickets and more!
To support the zoo visit the website here: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/battersea-zoo-crowdfunder
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