Lima Zoo receives food donations for animals

Merchants from Peru's largest wholesale market banded together to donate more than 10 tons of vegetables and fruits to help feed the animals of Parque de las Leyendas, or Park of the Legends, as Lima's zoo is known.

The donation is part of a solidarity initiative with the zoo, hard hit by the lack of visitors, income and food during the coronavirus pandemic.

The park is one of the beneficiaries of the merchants whom have also helped soup kitchens.

Parque de las Leyendas director Juan Carlos Ampuero said the attraction had been "hit hard" by the pandemic and the donation would help feed many of the park's 1,300 animals for 10 days.

Before the pandemic between 5,000 and 6,000 visitors arrived came to the zoo on any given weekday and about 18,000 on Sundays.

Now less than 500 people visit the park per day.