Re-opening of wildlife parks

[FernieB]

Posting here for traffic

Whilst the National Trust is able to open parks and gardens and anyone (seemingly in huge numbers) can visit a beach, the government has refused to allow Zoos and wildlife parks to open. This makes no sense as they are able to implement social distancing and offered pre-booked entry only just as the National Trust is doing.

Many of them now face closure and if they have to close they will be lost forever. Whatever you think about zoos they are a valuable educational resource and provide research into conservation and species.

I've contacted my MP to highlight this and I urge anyone else to do likewise.

[quote UnderTheBus]@onedayinthefuture
It is... odd isn't it. At first I thought it was a bit of a conspiracy theory but as time goes by there are far more places open which are frequented almost entirely by adults - gold courses, garden centres, clothing stores, national trust venues. Whereas anywhere child friendly is locked down and taped up, even if there is no good reason.[/quote]
I think it’s not a conspiracy, but practical. It would be very hard to keep excited children to social distancing rules, and to stop them touching glass etc. I can’t tell you how often I see children, understandably excited by the experience of being at the zoo, touching things they shouldn’t, and regularly licking the rails etc. I can’t imagine how a zoo could keep their miles of rails and surfaces sanitised in a day. They don’t think have anywhere near enough staff to supervise social distancing, either.

Perhaps better to consider taking out a membership for your local zoo to support them for now?

I think it’s not a conspiracy, but practical. It would be very hard to keep excited children to social distancing rules, and to stop them touching glass etc. I can’t tell you how often I see children, understandably excited by the experience of being at the zoo, touching things they shouldn’t, and regularly licking the rails etc. I can’t imagine how a zoo could keep their miles of rails and surfaces sanitised in a day. They don’t think have anywhere near enough staff to supervise social distancing, either.

Ah come off it. In Ireland our approach to the pandemic has been significantly more measured and our phased reopening plan is much slower. But our zoo and wildlife park (literally just one of each) have been able to reopen now.

Thank you for the positive responses.

With respects to the toilet issue - the NT has opened toilets so no issue. Plus like the NT nearly all Zoos have a large network of willing volunteers ready and able to monitor the flow of visitors and stop large groups gathering or touching glass etc. And glass can be regularly wiped down just as trolleys are at supermarkets. Zoos propose to open on a pre-booked ticket only basis to control daily numbers (like the NT) so social distancing can easily be maintained.

I'm a member of my local zoo and have been for years and am supporting them as much as I am able myself. If it had to close it would be devastating for the area, staff, public and animals. Most of the animals have lived there for several years and some are older than me (I have student daughters)!

I can’t tell you how often I see children, understandably excited by the experience of being at the zoo, touching things they shouldn’t, and regularly licking the rails etc

Maybe the parents should be supervising them better then My daughter has never licked a railing

To be honest if that's the attitude people have to children then they will never be allowed to go anywhere because they might lick something, touch something or go near someone. What a life.

Pretty sure my local zoo has had a booking system for a while perhaps cheaper to book in advance,
simple to carry on with, however one of the main attractions is the fantastic play park
plus i am still concerned about the affect of the virus on the animals.

If zoos aren't allowed to re-open there will be no animals to be concerned about.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/308733/signatures/thank-you

Another petition I have just seen. This one for financial help

Thanks, signed both petitions - you need to take the last bit off the last link to go through to petition, end it at the end of the number.

I agree, but they should be convinced to offer, say, a weekly ticket, so people can pop in for short visits without needing to eat or use the toilet.

I think there are some concerns that chimpanzees and other animals can contract CV, our local zoo had the keepers move in at the start to protect them, so there might be issues like that.

People do tend to group together at the zoo, wherever the animal is, all touching the same railing. Could it be insurance? That public spaces like beaches couldn't be help accountable if they were a hotspot? However, something like a zoo could be in trouble?

Whipsnade zoo, for instance, is massive and outdoor. They must be able to sort something out there. They do fantastic work too.

I realise loos could be a problem but I’m not sure why it’s a deal breaker when petrol station and service station loos are open.

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/308733

Reposted link, thanks @KoalasandRabbit

I could see why London zoo might not open as quite small but if whipsnade opened it could support it as they are part of the same body.

I really don't get it and I know I'm going lockdown crazy but I'm getting increasingly incensed at the fact that fucking golf and garden centres can open but the zoo can't. I live near Whipnade and it would be very easy to distance. I cannot and will not keep my kids locked up forever or we will all go insane. I was on board with this, I have stayed home all the time to save the NHS (which I've worked in for 17 years an no one used to give a shit about) and save lives. I follow the rules and with 3 young kids basically it's lockdown for the foreseeable. Give me something please, before I go mad. What will be left for children and teens at the end of this? I feel so so sorry for zoos, it seems ridiculous.

It will be the toilets, I imagine. They are high transmission places and you cannot have an attraction without toilets.

But this is surely a surmountable problem.

Today I have been to Chatsworth. Obviously the house and garden are closed, but the car park is open so you can enjoy the estate. It has to be booked in advance with an allocated time slot as, like the National Trust, they are limiting places. But loads of space, no problems social distancing.

Anyway, toilets! The usual ones are closed. However they had about ten portaloos. Sounds grim but in fact they were scrupulously clean. There was a member of staff cleaning pretty much all the time as they became free. Also there was a hand-washing station which, despite being outdoors, gad hot running water, soap dispensers and paper towels. There wasn't even a queue when we were there.

That's good to know about Chatsworth. Glad you had a good day

Just shows the Zoos can be open safely. Chester Zoo has already put plans in place for safe opening to meet all the guidelines including toilets etc but the government refuses to allow them to open.

@Piccalino3 completely agree. Whipsnade is huge, it would be so easy to socially distance there. I am very angry at how this crisis has affected children, they are losing out the most. I would also argue that my local park is packed most days, there's a bridge to cross over the river, it's a big congregation site. No one has anywhere else to go. If MORE places were open (with limits on numbers) we'd surely be spread out more.

We've got at least five animal-based attractions nearby, all of which could easily social distance by simply limiting visitor numbers and which (conservation issues aside) contribute enormously to local tourism - which obviously already has issues.

Bump! 🐒🐘

It doesn't seem consistent. Highland wildlife park for example you can do a massive part of without getting out of your car

I'd like to know why the government are saying zoos can't open, they might have a good reason, in which case no reason they can't share it.

The only possible thing I can think of is that people might travel further to a zoo than they would for other attractions, but all they'd have to do then is tell people they can't travel further than say an hour for a tourist attraction.

There's a petition if you want to sign

go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=petition.parliament.uk/petitions/308733

Got a question at the briefing, total non-answer though unfortunately, although we learnt that Matt Hancock is from Chester. Yay