A West Brighton attraction will benefit from thousands of taxpayer dollars.
State Assemblyman Matt Titone and State Sen. Diane Savino allocated $50,000 to the Staten Island Zoo.
The public funding is exxpected to go toward food and veterinary costs.
"We forget what goes on behind the scenes to take care of all the animals that are here at the Staten Island Zoo," said Savino. "It's not about just putting out a bowl of kibble. There's a very complicated system in place."
Titone and Savino toured the zoo's commissary Tuesday, where they prepared a fresh meal for the armadillos.
They said the money will go a long way in supporting a crucial part of the operation.
"It's that little hidden part of the zoo that makes the wheels turn, that we as the public don't think about, so it's great to be able to contribute to that." said Titone.
Officials for the zoo said it costs about $450,000 a year to feed its wildlife collection.