Australian Zoos closed due to COVID-19

Queensland zoos can also reopen today (1st June) as per an announcement made yesterday: Queensland novel coronavirus (COVID-19) update - 31 May 2020 | Queensland Health

"From midday, 1 June 2020, more businesses can also safely reopen or expand their services with a COVID Safe Plan.
......
a number of businesses and facilities who previously remained closed can reopen their business for up to 20 people, including:
......
museums and art galleries, cinemas, amusement parks and zoos, concert venues, theatres and stadiums."


The "20 people" bit relates to the Australian Government's stages which are discussed in this other thread ($95 million support package for Australian Zoos). Stage 1 is closed; Stage 2 is 20 people allowed at a time; and Stage 3 is 100 people at a time. Presumably after that it is back to normal, I guess.
 
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Chlidonias said:
Queensland zoos can also reopen today (1st June) as per an announcement made yesterday: Queensland novel coronavirus (COVID-19) update - 31 May 2020 | Queensland Health

"From midday, 1 June 2020, more businesses can also safely reopen or expand their services with a COVID Safe Plan.
......
a number of businesses and facilities who previously remained closed can reopen their business for up to 20 people, including:
......
museums and art galleries, cinemas, amusement parks and zoos, concert venues, theatres and stadiums."


The "20 people" bit relates to the Australian Government's stages which are discussed in this other thread ($95 million support package for Australian Zoos). Stage 1 is closed; Stage 2 is 20 people allowed at a time; and Stage 3 is 100 people at a time. Presumably after that it is back to normal, I guess.
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In Victoria (where zoos were allowed to open today as well) the 20 people related to indoor spaces, not outside. Outside zoos are allowed up 1 person per 4 sq metres. Don't know if this applies in Queensland or not. There has been no indication what is beyond stage 3, I think it may be some time before that is lifted.
 
Melbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Moonlit Sanctuary will be shut for 6 weeks from Thursday 9th July due to a Government shutdown because of recent increases in infections.
 
South Australia has just announced a 6 day "circuit breaker" extreme lockdown as of midnight tonight to deal with an outbreak developing in Adelaide.

Nobody is allowed to leave their home (not even for exercise) other than to buy food or other essentials - so all zoos will need to close too, since nobody is allowed to travel anywhere.

Further (less strict) restrictions will be put in place after the 6 days - but I would be surprised if zoos were allowed to reopen for a while yet.
 
Adelaide and Monarto Zoos have announced that while their zoos are closed to the public for at least the next 6 days - essential keeping staff will continue to look after the animals.

Adelaide Zoo | Facebook

Similar announcement from Gorge Wildlife Park - closed to the public, but essential staff still working:

Gorge Wildlife Park | Facebook

Cleland Wildlife Park have a blunt message on their website: "The public should act in accordance with the Premier’s directions. Stay home."
 
Simon Hampel said:
@MRJ are all zoos in Victoria now open again?
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Yes all zoos are open, however indoor areas are closed. Not positive but I assume the aquarium is closed. There are density requirements and Zoos Vic sell limited number of tickets online daily. We sell online also to stage arrival times and sell out over weekends. Some very small zoos may still be closed by choice.
 
Simon Hampel said:
Just checked - SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium reopened last Friday!
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Checking regulations there was a further loosening re indoor spaces on the 8th November to allow up to 20 people per indoor space in museums etc. I imagine this will restrict their visitor numbers somewhat. The change did not register with me as it does not affect us. Further changes are due at the end of November if things go well.
 
Sydney is back in lockdown until the 9th of July - so the following zoos and other facilities are currently closed:
  • Taronga Zoo
  • Featherdale Wildlife Park
  • Sydney Zoo
  • SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
  • WILD LIFE Sydney
  • Symbio Wildlife Park
  • Australian Reptile Park
 
Just checking Qld facilities due to their 3 day lockdown to 2nd of July - the following are closed:
  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
  • David Fleay Wildlife Park
  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
  • Australia Zoo
  • Maleny Bird World
  • SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast
 
Perth and Peel also in lockdown until 2nd of July, so I've confirmed the following are currently closed:
  • Perth Zoo
  • Caversham Wildlife Park
  • AQWA
 
Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo is not currently closed, but with the stay-at-home restrictions in place for Greater Sydney, there should be nobody visiting from the city area.

NSW zoo turns away three buses carrying 128 people from Sydney

Apparently three tour buses of toursists turned up at TWP Zoo yesterday morning - staff refused to let them off the buses and called the police. Of the 128 staff and guests on board, 76 were not permitted to have travelled outside of Greater Sydney :rolleyes:
 
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I got an email that Adelaide and Monarto are closed from today until 27 July (or until otherwise notified). I'm assuming this would be the same for all South Australian zoos given that the state has just gone into lockdown.

I'm also assuming that the Sydney zoos are closed currently?
 
Chlidonias said:
I'm assuming this would be the same for all South Australian zoos given that the state has just gone into lockdown.
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Yes, SA has gone into level 5 lockdown - so the zoos will all be closed.

Chlidonias said:
I'm also assuming that the Sydney zoos are closed currently?
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Yes, Sydney zoos will all be closed. Zoos outside of "greater Sydney" should generally be open - I know that Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo is open.
 
Plus of course all Victorian zoos, for at least 7 more days.
 
Pleased to say Moonlit Sanctuary will reopen from tomorrow, Wednesday 28th June. All other zoos and wildlife parks will be able to open as well, however some may choose not to so I'd suggest checking their websites.
 
Following the recent outbreak South-east Queensland's lockdown has been extended till Sunday at a minimum. Darling Downs Zoo fortunately remains open as it’s situated out of the impacted local government areas. The following facilities will remain closed:
  • Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (Brisbane)
  • Walkabout Creek Nature Centre (Brisbane)
  • Bribie Island Butterfly House (Moreton Bay)
  • Ipswich Nature Centre (Ipswich)
  • Australia Zoo (Sunshine Coast)
  • Wildlife HQ (Sunshine Coast)
  • Sea Life Sunshine Coast (Sunshine Coast)
  • Maleny Bird World (Sunshine Coast)
  • David Fleay Wildlife Park (Gold Coast)
  • Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (Gold Coast)
  • Dreamworld (Gold Coast)
  • Paradise Country (Gold Coast)
  • Sea World Gold Coast (Gold Coast)
 
As of last Friday (6th) all Victorian zoos are again closed for at least 7 days because of a new outbreak. While the exact source of the outbreak is still unknown, once again it came from New South Wales. The irony is of course there are still zoos open in New South Wales. We suffer because of the lax, arrogant attitude of the New South Wales government.
 
MRJ said:
As of last Friday (6th) all Victorian zoos are again closed for at least 7 days because of a new outbreak. While the exact source of the outbreak is still unknown, once again it came from New South Wales. The irony is of course there are still zoos open in New South Wales. We suffer because of the lax, arrogant attitude of the New South Wales government.
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Regional Victoria has had many restrictions removed so zoos located outside the Melbourne Metro area can reopen from tomorrow. This would include Halls Gap Zoo and Ballarat Wildlife Park. Zoos inside the Metro area, including all three Zoos Vic properties and Moonlit Sanctuary, remain closed.

The situation in New South Wales worsens as the virus is spreading into regional areas, including the Hunter Valley. Therefore I presume Hunter Valley Zoo is now closed although Western Plains Zoo continues to be open.

Not zoo related, but I visited the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales last May. The population up there is very anti-vaccination, not only COVID but any vaccine. They are also opposed to masks and don't have much connection to science. For instance many believe that the COVID vaccines shed COVID for several weeks after injection. Many shops have signs asking people who have recently been vaccinated not to enter. A COVID case has just been identified in Byron Bay. If the virus gets into that community it is going to have a party.
 
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