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Covid

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Original poster

Zoos open in Tier 4

64 replies

moomin11 · 29/12/2020 09:37

Was really surprised to learn that zoos and other outdoor attractions are allowed to remain open in Tier 4 - which seems completely at odds with the whole stay at home, only essential travel message!? Yet many are saying that schools should be closed. Just seems bonkers to me.

OP posts:

BoxingDayTurkey · 29/12/2020 13:51

Been reading the Facebook comments on various zoo pages with interest. Marwell and another we know of have had very supportive comments on their Facebook announcement of reopening, Chessington has had an extremely negative response. I wonder if it's due to Chessington being owned by Merlin group; I don't know much about their finances but assume the public think they have enough to cope without opening a non essential attraction.

We have a wildlife park less than 20 minutes away that has reopened and I'd love to take my 2 year old and baby tomorrow; we went in summer when it was as busy as their Covid capacity allows and it was very easy to avoid others with hand sanitiser all over the place.

On the other hand it feels "wrong" because of the stay at home message, even though it's been allowed, so I'm not sure what to do!

itsgettingweird · 29/12/2020 14:26

@Mrstwiddle

Marvell Zoo (Hampshire) is open. I would definitely go if I had small children to keep occupied.

That's the one I was talking about above!

middleager · 29/12/2020 14:38

I prefer the sound of Marvell
(thinks Ant Man and the Wasp, Black Panther)

Daisyhoney · 29/12/2020 14:47

Marwell zoo is our local zoo and I've just checked their booking system and wed - Fri is all fully booked so people are definitely taking advantage. We are passholders so I'm hoping to book for next week. I'm happy to see zoos reopening - they need people to visit to generate the income they need to care for the animals.
For those on here saying zoos should be kept shut - how would you feel if just one innocent animal had to be put down as a result?

itsgettingweird · 29/12/2020 15:06

@Daisyhoney

Marwell zoo is our local zoo and I've just checked their booking system and wed - Fri is all fully booked so people are definitely taking advantage. We are passholders so I'm hoping to book for next week. I'm happy to see zoos reopening - they need people to visit to generate the income they need to care for the animals. For those on here saying zoos should be kept shut - how would you feel if just one innocent animal had to be put down as a result?

From what I understand is it is actually you have to book 3 days in advance. So first available booking is Friday/Saturday.

There's something in small print of tickets as I was looking to book before Christmas and read it and could only book for after.

I didn't realise it would still be open in T4!

Doyouwantanothercuppa · 29/12/2020 15:14

Would you ever have imagined reading a schools vs. zoo thread. This time a year ago, what would we have made of this? Blows my mind.

Daisyhoney · 29/12/2020 15:32

Itsgettingweird they have tickets available for tomorrow but Saturday is now all booked so you can definitely book for the next four days ( subject to availability). We've booked the day before a few times ourselves so know this to be the case.

itsgettingweird · 29/12/2020 17:00

@Daisyhoney

I looked earlier as non member and cannot get tomorrow but can get Saturday.

Maybe it's the difference between 2?

Who knows but ds ill today and prescribed antibiotics so I don't want to risk booking in case he gets worse!

NataliaOsipova · 29/12/2020 17:26

@maverickallthetime Ooh - would you mind telling me roughly whereabouts you are/which zoo is open?

Queuing4Fergs · 29/12/2020 18:32

Colchester Zoo is closed but decision to be reviewed tomorrow

wendz86 · 29/12/2020 18:40

We are whipsnade members. It is very large so easy to socially distance and we use it as exercise .

maverickallthetime · 29/12/2020 20:12

@NataliaOsipova banham zoo and africa alive are both open in Norfolk. I think they desperately need the money, I really feel for the animals

Em777 · 29/12/2020 20:16

I think this is fantastic news. We have been donating heavily to our local zoo (Port Lympne Reserve) as they’ve been haemorrhaging money.

It’s outdoors, tickets are booked online, staff are masked, the risks are incredibly low. And I say that as someone who is super paranoid.

NataliaOsipova · 29/12/2020 20:57

Thanks @maverickallthetime. Agreed - they really do need the support. I’ll check those out. Thanks again.

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