Why can't zoos open?

[Nquartz]

Zoos have been told they need to stay shut indefinitely yet we can go to Ikea or to buy a car

They are outside, indoor areas can be closed, food outlets takeaway only, same as parks & beaches so why can't they open?

I assume it is a financial decision by the government but I don't understand. Who knows what will happen to the animals if they can't get revenue.

this is off-subject but for kids and adults wanting to see wildlife there are lots of great live webcams available, especially in the US zoos, which are brilliant and some even interactive.
also Springwatch on bbc.

I've submitted a question about this to the daily briefing. I don't suppose it'll be picked and if it is, the answer will probably be waffle but it's worth a try. I've sent the edited version - the first one had a lot of rude words

Surely they should open with similar conditions to National Trust places with a booked entry and just toilets open.

@BamboozledandBefuddled
@Floatyboat

I was thinking about the briefings & wondering how to submit a question, I'm also toying with the idea of emailing or tweeting all the journalists I can think of.

Not sure if this is said but it could be concerns over infecting animals?

It’s quite difficult to get with 2m of most of the animals in a zoo.

And zoos are not just for children. My DM, on lock down in her care home, has Chester Zoo right at the top of her list for a visit when she’s allowed out. We’re members and we are very upset by this news.

Lots of zoos allow quite close contact with some animals. For example London Zoo allows you to walk through the exhibits with bats and lemurs. Lots of monkey cages are wire not glass. The last thing we need is to pass this virus to animals and allow it to mutate.

@Nquartz This is the link to submit questions www.gov.uk/ask I was going going to start pestering the press later when I've got a bit more time.

Has there been a petition started to re-open zoos?

@catsmother I've seen 3, 2 different ones for Chester specifically and a third generic one

www.change.org/p/parliament-open-uk-zoos?recruiter=218450366&utm_campaign=signature_receipt&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

There's another thread about it too. On that one, the OP suggests emailing MPs which I've done.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3928531-re-opening-of-wildlife-parks?msgid=97134536

could it be to do with protecting the animals from the virus?
it came from an animal in the first place supposedly ?

Dublin Zoo is open but visitor numbers are restricted.

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine but no one gets that close to the animals surely? I spoke to a.keeper at Twycross and she said they don't go in with the chimps because although they seem nice they are wild animals.

If there was a risk walking through the lemurs enclosure for example, just keep it shut. Twycross had already said they'd keep the indoor bits shut anyway.

I don't think the zoos would be asking to reopen if it was going to endanger the animals.

I don't understand the logic of zoos not being able to open either. Also, as others have said, why on earth cannot safari parks open? You stay in your car in those.

It saddens me to think what will happen to all those animals if they zoos are not allowed to open soon.

It's ridiculous that bloody McDonalds can open and yet not a zoo. This government are so crap it's untrue

Zoos historically charge far too much for entry, so as a result we havent been for about 8 years costs about 55 pound for a family to go, which is ridiculous. As a result I refuse to sign any petition to keep them open.

I dont understand it either.
I could understand them not opening the reptile house being inside.
Only thing I can think of is perhaps its children touching railings/glass but I'm sure this could be easily addressed. I dont want to think what is happening with the animals.

Just had another thought. A few posters suggested it may be because of toilets. Supermarket toilets are open and, I believe, have been throughout lock down. Also Ikea toilets are open

Toilets are open at our local nature reserve, some beach toilets are open too so that can't be it.

Is it because they are charities & all other places are shops? Does the government benefit financially from shops being open but not zoos?

You can go to primark in less than 2 weeks but you can’t go to a 132 acre zoo! Absolutely no logic behind the government decision to keep zoos close indefinitely!

We are members at Chester zoo and would be devastated if they had to close. I have tweeted the MP for Chester who is also the shadow secretary for culture, hopefully with a bit of pressure the government will rethink their decision.

Without indoor areas, zoos are essentially massive parks, only parks haven’t implemented social distancing markers, reduced numbers and 100 hand washing stations (like Chester zoo have)!

@TabbyMumz so because you can’t afford to go you won’t support them staying open? If they close what do you think would happen to the poor innocent animals?

This has baffled me too. Dublin Zoo in ireland has reopened before most shops. Ireland is still very much in lockdown, but the zoo opened on Monday. I was very disappointed at the zoos here being told they are being closed indefinitely. Seems illogical

@TabbyMumz

Plenty of ways to visit many places much cheaper than that. Also £55 for a family day out isn't that bad compared to other things.

The issues with zoos I expect is that even though they’re big, most people naturally want to congregate around the enclosure - the railings and windows etc

Doesn’t matter how wide the paths are etc as people want to be ring side

Plus the toilets etc

Also Zoos have to pay staff so they’ll have a minimum number of guests that make it worthwhile opening - too few and it’ll cost more to open

Also Zoos have to pay staff so they’ll have a minimum number of guests that make it worthwhile opening - too few and it’ll cost more to open

I'm not sure that's true. They still have all the animal welfare costs and associated staffing. Large zoos open on very quiet days eg weekdays in January because it's still worth employing a few customer facing staff given their total costs.

The point about congregating would need consideration. But floor markers to guide separation and controls on number of visitor should manage that. Particularly as it's outside.