Durrell now announcing they’re in trouble, with an 80% drop in income despite reopening earlier than other collections.
UK zoos & lockdown going forward...
- Thread starter TriUK
- Start date
Gigit
Well-Known Member
It certainly made me wonder what I could do to help. With a fairly small captive audience, they rely on tourists to boost their finances.
I think this underlines that reopening (with severely restricted attendances) isn't an answer in itself. Costs up, income down = hard times.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Yes, at a time when we hear that zoos such as Prague are doing very well for visitation, being a large expensive organisation on a small island dependent on tourism would seem to be the issue - though surely given the wealth of the island and its people, the zoo ought to receive help, given the amount of tourism revenue it has earned the island over the years...
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Yes, I thought they deserve sponsorship from some of the wealthy residents/companies. That said, a lot of the donations they're receiving are quite hefty (more so than Paignton's for example) and from across the world, with people mentioning their admiration for Gerald Durrell.
Paignton Zoo have just announced Living Coasts will not be re-opening after the closure. First victim in the UK.
Second victim, Amazonia went into administration soon after lockdown was first announced in Scotland.
Is there any reason why the British government would not be at fault in this case? Of course, the pandemic is an occurrence over which none of us, nor the government, had any bearing, but it was the government's decision to force zoos to remain closed over the last few weeks, I suspect, that sunk Living Coasts. Do you think that if zoos have been permitted to open, say, a week ago, that Living Coasts might have been saved?
This news it utterly depressing. It seems @Crowthorne was correct when she said that she wouldn't celebrate just yet when zoos were finally given the go-ahead by the government.
This news it utterly depressing. It seems @Crowthorne was correct when she said that she wouldn't celebrate just yet when zoos were finally given the go-ahead by the government.
Wasn't already discussed here a few times that Amazonia actually can't be counted as the administration would happen even without COVID-19 closures?
I suspect that for them not even to try to reopen the situation may already have not been great.
Plus administration involves trying to find a buyer to keep the business open so it isn't definitely a permanent closure until the process is completed.
Especially given that their own announcement specifically mentions "falling visitor numbers" and aged infrastructure.
Paignton Zoo have just announced Living Coasts will not be re-opening after the closure. First victim in the UK.
This is devastating news. Loved Living Coasts on my visit back in 2016. It was such a unique little zoo-aviary-aquarium, really hoped to go back sometime, but I guess it's not to be.
This may be the first, but probably not the last to fall because of this pandemic
I believe the writing may already have been on the wall for LC before the advent of the lockdown...
From their statement, I think this is probably the case. Whilst it is very sad, hopefully the closure of Living Coasts will increase the chances of Paignton and Newquay's survival. It was an expensive site to run for the number of visitors
Paignton Zoo have just announced Living Coasts will not be re-opening after the closure. First victim in the UK.
Having just returned from a Whipsnade visit (yes, I managed to get tickets!) this has put a significant dampner on my day. Horrible news regardless of the situation.
‘You can’t furlough an otter’: why one family-run zoo remains shut – video
Fenn Bell zoo - emotional interview here with Fenn’s owner
Fenn Bell zoo - emotional interview here with Fenn’s owner
Gigit
Well-Known Member
Paignton's Diary of Doom continues on FB:
Yesterday, Wild Planet Trust announced that it would not be re-opening Living Coasts as a visitor attraction following its closure during the current coronavirus pandemic. Falling visitor numbers and the forced closure of all its zoos due to COVID-19 has meant that it has had to look at its cost base and make efficiencies.
During the period of time that zoos have been shut down, millions of pounds of revenue have been lost, and substantial costs have been incurred caring for the animals. This has wiped out cash reserves and left many zoos facing an uncertain future.
In order to ensure the future of Paignton and Newquay Zoos, we are having to make some tough decisions and making posts redundant is something we are, regrettably, having to consider. The survival of the zoos will depend on visitors coming to our sites when we re-open over the summer, but more importantly for local people to continue that support throughout the winter, when the zoos historically run at a loss.
A fundraising campaign for Paignton Zoo has been in place since 23rd March. We are very grateful to those who have given us support both in cash and in kind but we will need much, much more to get us through the next few months.
To donate please visit: https://bit.ly/paignton-zoo-appeal
We are still aiming for an early July re-opening date for the zoo and will be sharing full information on our plans with you very soon.
Yesterday, Wild Planet Trust announced that it would not be re-opening Living Coasts as a visitor attraction following its closure during the current coronavirus pandemic. Falling visitor numbers and the forced closure of all its zoos due to COVID-19 has meant that it has had to look at its cost base and make efficiencies.
During the period of time that zoos have been shut down, millions of pounds of revenue have been lost, and substantial costs have been incurred caring for the animals. This has wiped out cash reserves and left many zoos facing an uncertain future.
In order to ensure the future of Paignton and Newquay Zoos, we are having to make some tough decisions and making posts redundant is something we are, regrettably, having to consider. The survival of the zoos will depend on visitors coming to our sites when we re-open over the summer, but more importantly for local people to continue that support throughout the winter, when the zoos historically run at a loss.
A fundraising campaign for Paignton Zoo has been in place since 23rd March. We are very grateful to those who have given us support both in cash and in kind but we will need much, much more to get us through the next few months.
To donate please visit: https://bit.ly/paignton-zoo-appeal
We are still aiming for an early July re-opening date for the zoo and will be sharing full information on our plans with you very soon.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
More threats of animal euthanasia...