The End of the Zoo Industry?

ZooBinh said:
Right now closure somewhat seems inevitable sadly.....the state having to worry about COVID and looting damages...
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I'm not sure I would go that far but it does seem somewhat likely.

At first I wondered if donations from the public could possibly cover at least part of the money needed. But I don't think that's going to happen. If Como Park was about to close it would easily get lots of donations and public outcry but I don't think Minnesota would get very much.

Really a shame, as Como Park is overrated and almost kind of boring IMO, at least when compared to Minnesota.
 
CGSwans said:
This is true now, as we've already seen with the groundswell of support for Chester. But the longer a crisis rolls on the more unthinkable things tend to happen. In most Western countries, at least, people are either still working or still receiving government financial support that is in many cases more generous than is usually the case (many Americans and Australians are in fact earning more in government support than in their regular jobs at present). However, that won't stay the case. It's one thing for people to open their wallets now in support of a zoo, and quite another in a year from now when not only are they poorer themselves, but they've also seen cafes, restaurants, retailers, movie theatres and museums they've frequented for years already go under. There's only so much that people can 'care' before it becomes too emotionally exhausting, let alone financially draining.
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Yeah, if this goes on long enough (and it could) that could happen. But if it does, I still maintain that new zoos will open up when things calm down. There's demand for it.
 
ZooBinh said:
As I've heard people say, "The pandemic isn't over in America, but America is over the pandemic." But they aren't ready for the conversation that this is not how it works. This is life or death for many people, and we're worried about our money making economy. Just goes to show where the mind of our government is at.
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So, that's something else I've been thinking about. Americans are notoriously individualistic and despite the spike in cases, I doubt many Americans or the government officials will be willing to go into lockdown again. So many people barely cooperated with it the first time around. If closure isn't required by the government, will zoos be willing to take the risk and remain open out of necessity? Especially given that a lot of the concern about spread is focused on indoor, crowded spaces.

ThylacineAlive said:
Don't even get me started on this, as an 'essential worker' who apparently doesn't qualify for hazard pay despite 50+ cases within my workplace.....

~Thylo
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It's really lousy. I'm making more money off of unemployment right now and I feel a little bad about it, considering that so many essential workers make such low wages as it is.
 
TheMightyOrca said:
So, that's something else I've been thinking about. Americans are notoriously individualistic and despite the spike in cases, I doubt many Americans or the government officials will be willing to go into lockdown again.
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That makes perfect sense if you are located somewhere where the pandemic feels like some other place's problem. Here in NYC where 900 people a day were dying and everyone knew people who had COVID19 it was different. Yes, now that the death rate has dropped (to 19 yesterday) and summer is here people are getting sloppy again, but as cases rise rapidly in other states (like Arizona and Florida) the fear will sober people up. For awhile. Americans and politicians may not easily agree to lockdowns again but where the coronavirus becomes virulent people will be more likely to return to self isolating.
 
Visited Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut today and was very impressed with how they have adjusted some of their policies to be mindful of protecting patrons and animals under present circumstances. Most inside exhibits and attractions are closed. Outdoor exhibits are accessible via one a single direction to facilitate more orderly foot traffic, cafeterias are closed, no paper maps or tickets are offered. The entire zoo closes midday to be sanitized and admission is prepaid for either a morning or afternoon session to control numbers. Masks are mandatory and people did seem for the most part to comply. It’s a pretty good working model.
 
Zooplantman said:
That makes perfect sense if you are located somewhere where the pandemic feels like some other place's problem. Here in NYC where 900 people a day were dying and everyone knew people who had COVID19 it was different. Yes, now that the death rate has dropped (to 19 yesterday) and summer is here people are getting sloppy again, but as cases rise rapidly in other states (like Arizona and Florida) the fear will sober people up. For awhile. Americans and politicians may not easily agree to lockdowns again but where the coronavirus becomes virulent people will be more likely to return to self isolating.
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I guess I just don't have a lot of faith in the American people. I certainly hope my pessimism is unwarranted.
 
Ann Esther Sprizzo said:
Visited Beardsley Zoo in Connecticut today and was very impressed with how they have adjusted some of their policies to be mindful of protecting patrons and animals under present circumstances. Most inside exhibits and attractions are closed. Outdoor exhibits are accessible via one a single direction to facilitate more orderly foot traffic, cafeterias are closed, no paper maps or tickets are offered. The entire zoo closes midday to be sanitized and admission is prepaid for either a morning or afternoon session to control numbers. Masks are mandatory and people did seem for the most part to comply. It’s a pretty good working model.
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I visited yesterday as well! :p

I saw a few people without masks but for the most part people complied. The zoo has a very good route set up I must say.

~Thylo
 
Sharing this not because it’s zoo-related - it isn’t - but because there’s a figure in it that chills the blood. American state and local governments are heading for a $1 trillion budget hit, and in nearly every state they are required by law to deliver surplus budgets. That means job losses and grant cuts.

No American zoo that relies on public sector funding for a meaningful slice of their revenue is safe. Not one. The Second Great Depression
 
This is certainly a valid point and one of my biggest fears. Living in New York it is very obvious jobs and people were fleeing the burdensome cost of being here way before the pandemic. Now things are much worse of course and I greatly fear when zoos will be low on the priority list where public funding is concerned. To date they haven’t even announced a reopening date for the zoo after 4 months of closure.
 
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