Venezuelan Zoo Animals 'Stolen To Be Eaten'

Venezuelan police believe animals stolen from Zulia Metropolitan Zoological Park (ZMZP) were hijacked to be eaten, according to a Reuters report. Two collared peccaries, which resemble boars, were taken from the zoo in Maracaibo, Zulia over the weekend.

"What we presume is that they [were taken] with the intention of eating them," Luis Morales, a representative for the National Police, told reporters Tuesday. However, zoo head Leonardo Nunez alleges that "They take everything here! The animals weren't stolen to be eaten."

According to the Independent, ZMZP reported that more than ten animal species have disappeared from the zoo in the past few weeks. The animal theft occurs during the midst of a food shortage that has hit Venezuela.

Venezuela's economic and political crisis has created country-wide food shortages, which has caused citizens to resort to unhealthy, cost-effective options. According to a report in June by the Washington Post, 63 percent of Venezuelans have turned to "unusual foods," while "70 percent report that they've stopped consuming types of food they consider important, and 85 percent of families in at-risk areas report they are eating less."

Many Venezuelans have pointed to President Nicolas Maduro as the cause of the food crisis. Maduro, who took over as president in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez, has claimed an "economic war" was launched against Venezuela by its opposition leaders. He has blamed the food shortage on protesters who've blocked local streets and highways.

Venezuela has been plagued by hyper inflation, further exacerbating the food crisis. Citizens have reportedly undergone an extreme amount of weightless, suffered malnutrition or have skipped daily meals.

Zoo animals in Venezuela are also plagued with starvation. Food shortages have left zoos without substantial food to feed the animals with, which has often caused the animals to starve to death.

According to a separate report from the Independent, nearly 50 zoo animals died of starvation at the Caricuao Zoo in Caracas. The July 2016 report claimed, "The animals have all died within the last six months - while many animals, including Vietnamese pigs, tapirs, rabbits and birds, at the Caricuao zoo in Caracas have not eaten for two weeks."

Marlene Sifontes, a union leader for the Caricuao Zoo, claimed that "the story of the animals at Caricuao is a metaphor for Venezuelan suffering." Zoo staff has reportedly resorted to feeding elephants tropical fruit rather than hay, whereas lions and tigers are instead being fed mangoes and pumpkins. The animals normally consume meat, but the zoo has to make up for the decreased available meat options.

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