Battersea Park Zoo appeals for donations during lockdown

The family-favourite spot relies entirely on visitors’ donations and is struggling over lockdown to maintain daily running costs.

Members, visitors and friends are being asked to chip in to save zoo, which has been based in South London for nearly 70 years.

The zoo says £150 is needed to feed its 50 animal species and provide fresh bedding for one day.

This includes all fresh vegetables, fruits, pellet feeds, meat, fish, straw and hay.

Battersea Park Zoo needs help feeding its animals

However, £500 would care for the mammals, birds and reptiles for several days.

A spokesperson for Battersea Park Zoo said:

“Surviving this pandemic is vital as Battersea Zoo brings so much to the London Community.

“The zoo runs a creative education programme complying with the national curriculum and teaches interactive workshops based on conservation, adaptations, the food chain and camouflage.

“The education programme attracts schools from all over London and is usually fully booked each year, with over 8,500 children learning at the zoo each year.

“The zoo actively participates in vital European breeding programmes with other zoos to conserve species and educate their visitors as to why many species are disappearing from the wild.

Battersea Park Zoo needs help feeding its animals

"European hedgehogs and Eurasian harvest mice are bred regularly and released into the wild as part of reintroduction programmes across the UK.”

To say thank you for the donations the zoo receives, it is offering the chance to win prizes which can be claimed when the zoo reopens again.

For every £10 donated to the crowdfunder, the participant's name will be placed in a draw of 15 prizes.

These include keeper experiences, wallaby encounters, armadillo experiences and zoo tickets.

You can donate and enter here.