US zoos closed due to COVID-19 and duration

All these updates plus closure of the Alaska SeaLife Center through 03/31, closure of the Belle Isle Aquarium through 04/13, event cancellations at Sylvan Heights Bird Park, event cancellations at the remaining WCS facilities, and event cancellations at the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House have been logged into the spreadsheet.
 
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It's a precautionary thing, there's still a risk of infection from people visiting high traffic areas even when the attendance is capped. Aquariums especially may be vulnerable to this given that they're confined spaces that often don't allow for social distancing.
 
drill said:
Why do they close, instead of limiting visitor attendance?
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Easier for cleaning and disinfecting purposes too, can you imagine trying to keep highly touched areas heavily sanitized somewhere like San Diego, Georgia Aquarium, or Disney's Animal Kingdom?! It's easier to just close when it's the recommended option...
 
Hipporex said:
"The Wildlife Conservation Society is temporarily closing the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and NY Aquarium, effective March 16, 2020. Our five parks will be closed and education and public programs will be cancelled or postponed."
Know Before You Go - Bronx Zoo

Not really a surprise.
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Reading their full statement it sounds like the city forced them to close.

~Thylo
 
WCS has just announced that the Bronx Zoo, Queens Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Central Park, and NY Aquarium will all be temporarily closed starting tomorrow.

This seems to be part of more change happening in the city, strengthening precautions. Our colleges, while switching to online classes, were still open to faculty and students who wanted to use the library, computer labs, etc. However, we were just alerted that only "essential staff" are to report tomorrow, which usually means only security and buildings and grounds. We are still having faculty meetings in preparation for the switch on Thursday. Now, we're unsure if we've been banned from campus altogether. I need things from my office, so this has just made things much more serious.

http://view.em.wcs.org/?qs=6c809e5c...b2150042b526cf47b3505027fc975a7220a2b40a022c1
 
For some reason I can't scroll past Prospect Park on the sheet, anyone else experiencing this?

Columbus is now closed, if that wasn't already added. (EDIT- I see it wasn't, can scroll all the way down on my computer but not my phone. Who knows. )
 
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Tulsa Zoo is closed til further notice

Como Zoo is closed til March 27

Maryland Zoo will be closed starting tomorrow, I am assuming until further notice (they didn't mention a reopen date)
 
ThylacineAlive said:
Reading their full statement it sounds like the city forced them to close.

~Thylo
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I think this was the case - NYC is now closing all schools, as well as all bars and restaurants, limiting them to take-out/delivery only. The same is about to happen in Baltimore, per a friend who lives there, which would explain Maryland Zoo now closing after resisting. I imagine we'll see this happen with Philly next, forcing that zoo to close as well.
 
Sorry @Imperator Furiosa...

Update on those already listed:

Little Rock is now fully closed till March 30
Santa Fe Teaching Zoo is now closed till further notice
Maryland Zoo is closed again at least tomorrow, may be longer but difficult to ascertain
Albuquerque Biopark is closed through April 15
Cleveland Metroparks is now closed through March 31
The Wilds is now closed
Oregon is closed due to icy conditions, will have to see if they choose to reopen
Pittsburgh will be closing until further notice
South Carolina Aquarium is now closed till March 31
Riverbanks is now closed through March 31

Update on zoos not yet listed in the doc:

Fresno Chaffee Zoo is closed until further notice
Happy Hollow Zoo is closed at least through March 21, probably longer
Turtle Bay Exploration Park has canceled all events and programs through March 31
World Center for Birds of Prey is closed till further notice
Zoo Montana has canceled larger events and closed a few indoor areas
Pueblo has cancelled events and programs
Abilene has cancelled all programs
High Desert Museum has cancelled events and programs
Ellen Trout Zoo is closed through March 28
Racine is closed through March 29
Toledo is closed through April 1
Cape May is closed through April 1
ZooAmerica is closed through April 1
 
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