MELAKA: Donations have been pouring in to help Zoo Melaka feed its menagerie of over 500 animals, but now it also needs a donation of a refrigerated container to store the extra perishable items.

Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) president, Datuk Shadan Othman, said the animals consume about 800kg (of meat) and 300kg of vegetables per month.

"However, donations have had to be declined at the moment because the zoo has run out of storage space," he told reporters today.

Shadan said that if they had a refrigerated container they could accept more donations and share it with other conservation centres in the state like A'Famosa Safari Wonderland in Alor Gajah.

Shadan also said that since the movement control order (MCO) was imposed last year, Zoo Melaka has only opened for six months although it needs at least RM1 million per month to survive.

"However, we've managed to reduce operating costs to RM600,000 per month by spending less and through donations from the public," he said.

Shadan said the ZooToYou programme streamed on social media was also well-received, attracting over 1.2 million views for the four times that it aired and donations from the public.

-- BERNAMA