Aibu to be annoyed unnecessary things like zoos etc are still open?

[Hugt]

I understand that places like parks and beaches remained open but are beginning to close because people should get fresh air but then all flocked to the same places.

However several attractions such as zoos are still advertising for people to come and see their newborns! Apparently you can social distance within them but surely people will be crowding round the new borns, sharing the same toilets and touching the same doors and fences around exhibits?

I understand that they cant afford to lose money but surely thats irresponsible?

Chester Zoo is shut. But I was disgusted by the number of idiots that have been everywhere over the weekend.

Howletts, port lympne, wingham and several others in the south east are still open

Some like longleat have changed to be all car safari but i still wonder about toilets etc

I really wanted to take my dd to the zoo this year. I just thing it’s irresponsible to stay open but I do worry about peoples jobs wish I could go and know it was t going to be busy.

All my local places announced they were closing today (or I should say yesterday, I should sleep!)

Totally ridiculous staying open as all the stupid people that have been crowding together this weekend will flock to places like this still open to 'do something outside' for fresh air.

The fresh air isn't that fresh when everyone's sharing it and you're right about the toilets/ doors. Then there's paying as you go in/ tickets/ maps/ animal food/ stroking animals/ sitting for a rest on the bench- everything is a risk.

I understand jobs are being lost and animals need feeding, however this is peoples lives.

Too many people think this is just an early holiday.

My local one is streaming their zoo enclosures so you can “visit” and see the animals but not actually go.

Cotswold wildlife park, woburn, paigton, twycross (although has restrictions), wildwood, south lakes, Newquay, isle of Wight are also open

Probably more that i havent thought of

Exmoor and dartmoor too.

Im genuinely seeing adverts to some and see some of their new animals, so how they can say there arent focal points in the park is beyond me

It never even occurred to me that zoos would be open. And I don't really understand why anyone would visit.

Ive messaged my local ones but feel a bit powerless to do anything.

I'm really quite worried about them. They need to earn money through visitors to look after the animals and maintain the staff. Our local has lots of rescues, animals that have been moved about and abused. I dont want anything happening to them.

It has kicked off on the local Facebook page @Hugt about why is it still open. It is not essential to visit a zoo right now. I get that it is more open than indoor activities but I really don't see how you are less likely to catch the virus when it is now packed because of the nice weather.

Some friends have been today, the whole family (3 generations) including a very new baby. Why! Just why!

I get that they need money but I think it's irresponsible for them not to close.

Our local zoo has closed, they issued a reassuring statement that they would be there when this is over and likened it to the foot and mouth outbreak when they had to close and the public hugely supported them when they were able to reopen. There are so many non essential shops open too, clothing shops, Thornton's and hotel Chocolat are still open like chocolate is an essential food source!!

Our local one is open and had received a fair bit of criticism for it.

I get the dilemma but they should not be opening now. Or they should limit numbers allowed in and out.

The one my DH works at closed today. The zoos worry though, no income yet huge outgoings. Some of the smaller ones have started justgiving pages near here. DH's is putting big projects on hold and staff are working fewer days to minimise contact while ensuring all the animals can still be fed.

I've just checked and Newquay zoo is still open which is so irresponsible! I just can't believe that some places think they are above closing.

@JoshArcherStoleMyTractor I have to disagree chocolate is essential to me

@CandlesBlanketsandTea any responsible chocoholic wouldn't be without a reasonable stash in the cupboard 😁

Colchester Zoo has closed. Obviously non essential so the right thing to go but they did say in their statement that there's a possibility they may not survive. Horrible situation for them.

our local zoo is closed. thankfully they are behaving responsibly

responsible chocoholic wouldn't be without a reasonable stash in the cupboard
Addiction doesn't work like that!
I once moved house and had the removal drivers comment on the quantity of wine and joke about alcoholism.
I retorted that if I was an alcoholic, there'd be little chance of having that many cases of wine in the house.
I can guarantee they weren't asked to move any chocolate.

Back to comments on zoos - daft to open, they should reduce to skeleton staff to keep animals fed, hopefully the 80% salary grant will help them keep afloat.

the zoo i work for has shut. understandable although it's very spacious and i would have thought they would just close all indoor areas initially but now i think about it people do gather around certain spots even outside don't they.

@MerryDeath thats what i would assume. Some are on huge estates so are getting lots of people responding saying that its bigger than local parks etc that are rammed

However from my memory the exhibits arent evenly spread out usually, and i would think that things like giraffe enclosures will have lots of people, and the far reaches of the park where there is no animals will have none.

Presumably the wooden rails near there would be a real risk as would all the toilets etc.

I wondered if non essential shops are next. Card factory was really busy on friday

Newquay closed today, they are slowly all closing I can see why they tried to stay open and they have animals to feed.

Yeah i understand they must need so much income to feed and care for, and the longer they are closed then the harder it is.

Theres lots of support for lots of the zoos remaining open on my local facebook pages. I've commented but been very much told that i dont know anything