A Maritime wildlife park is facing a major shortfall and is asking provincial and municipal governments to step in.

Administrators at Two Rivers Wildlife Park in Marion Bridge, N.S. are trying to come up with the cash to keep the gates open. The park needs $40,000 in emergency funding.

“We were down 4,000 (people) at the gate this year, weather related,” says Roland Doncaster of the Two Rivers Development Association. “We had a bad winter last winter, into a rainy spring.”

The park used to receive annual operating grants from the province, but that money is no longer available.

With fewer visitors during major events last year, it's become difficult to balance the books.

“We decided to go to the municipality because they provide us with $35,000 a year in an operating grant. So we decided to go to them for emergency funding,” says Doncaster.

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality council voted yesterday to provide half the money, as long as the provincial government will match the contribution.

“We're hoping that when they see a municipality, that's not overflowing with cash, came to the plate with $20,000, they'll find in some department, another $20,000,” says Doncaster.

Councillor Ivan Doncaster abstained from yesterday's vote because of a conflict, but says the municipality and the province should make sure Two Rivers succeeds.

“We have almost written confirmation from Michel Samson and this is part of his riding now,” says Ivan Doncaster.

Michel Samson is the Liberal MLA for the area. He says he has received the request from Two Rivers and it will be reviewed soon. He also says he is pleased that council has agreed to provide some funding.

Samson says he hopes to meet with the Two Rivers board to develop a sustainable business plan, something the board is working toward

“We're striving every year, we're getting closer and closer to self-sufficiency,” says Doncaster.

Two Rivers Wildlife Park is not the only Maritime wildlife park in financial trouble. Last fall, New Brunswick's Cherry Brook Zoo asked the city of Saint John to cover a funding shortfall of $60,000.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Sarah Ritchie