The 4 mammals are otter, beaver, water Vole, harvest mouse
UK zoos & lockdown going forward...
- Thread starter TriUK
- Start date
Yes, should have realised it meant 4 species...not individuals.
I have just submitted a question to be answered at the next government press conference in regard to zoos. Some of my family have been doing the same. Unsure if it will work but if more people ask about it the chances of them talking about the issue might be higher.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Yes that was why I used the word taxa rather than species or individuals. The domestic animals are Longhorn Cattle, according to a quick click here ZootierlisteHomepage
This is all planned to 'avoid public confusion', apparently!
I have asked for details of the Wildfowl Trusts exemption from the BIAZA web-site statement linked by Crowthorne yesterday.
They should tell you in three days if they intend to use it.
PLEASE post a link.
edit - No need, I found it! - WWT home page:
Updated: Wednesday 3 June
We are pleased to announce that our wetland centres in England will re-open on Wednesday 10 June.
Members of the public and our members will have to pre-book online for the specific day they want to visit so we can manage numbers safely.
Our wetland centres in Arundel (West Sussex), London (Barnes), Martin Mere (Lancashire), Slimbridge (Gloucestershire), Washington (Tyne and Wear) and Welney (Norfolk) will all open with social distancing and additional safety measures in place. In order to help protect our visitors, staff and volunteers, daily numbers will be restricted and both WWT members and non-members are requested to book beforehand so we can ensure the safety of visitors, staff and volunteers.
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I think the Chester statement is very well-pitched - not hysterical but very forceful. As well as drumming up some donations, hopefully it will call some attention to the issue more widely. 'Chester Zoo' was trending on UK Twitter for a time earlier, so it certainly seems to have reached a decent audience.
I've also submitted a question via gov.uk - hopefully more questions give more chance of change.
Considering the size of Chester, most definitely.
I agree with what @Maguari said as well, it was very well-pitched and really gives you an understanding of the situation and will certainly help the public's perception.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
It is very well written, but focuses entirely on Chester (as of course would be expected) and makes no mention of the Government discrimination which allows farm-parks and some zoos like the Wildfowl Trust to open and forces others to stay closed.
I think this is the most important point and Chester ignores it.
Whatever Government policy is (and they are dealing with a pandemic after all) it should be fairly implemented, and not done so in a way which discriminates against and financially victimises some organisations, at the financial benefit of others.
I think they'll want to punch up, not down. They're a big, well-known attraction - singling out local farm parks wouldn't be a great look. And I certainly wouldn't expect them to want to look like they were criticising WWT, or jeopardise that organisation's chance to re-open. However tightly they wrote it, it would risk looking like sour grapes and undermining their message.
While I agree inconsistency is a major problem with the current government (in general!), I can see why Chester went for blunt hammer 'let us (all) re-open' on this rather than trying to drive wedges in the current arrangements.
giant_anteater
Well-Known Member
While I agree that it is hugely unfair that certain places are able to open where others aren’t, I think that for Chester (or any other zoo for that matter) to mention it would just end up causing more issues.
Bringing light to this would mean that these farm parks and WWT could end up having to close again. And as unfair as it may seem that they’re open and others aren’t, these places have just as many bills to pay and more importantly, animals to care for, as anywhere else.
So avoiding mentioning it in any press releases at least guarantees the safety of these animals, if not their own.
It is, of course, quite possible that the WWT announcement this morning took them equally unawares as it did us - in which case its absence from a press statement that was probably written a day or so ago is unsurprising.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
I am afraid that I absolutely do not agree.
Discrimination and the subsequent financial victimisation must be highlighted.
It does not 'seem' unfair - it IS unfair.
Everyone being equal, but some being more equal than others is not something which should fit into the UK legal system, save in fiction.
Our only chance of compensation or potential insurance claims, is to be able to show that our business has not been interrupted by any disease or policy equally effecting everybody, but by Government action against individuals or individual businesses being subjected to different treatment to others. It is my (lay) opinion that we have now moved from the first to the second...
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
West Lodge Farm Park.
We are taking and filing daily screen-shots of their on-line booking calendar. Tomorrow and Friday were sold out, but now have availability.
They must be actively managing their web-site and increasing their (hidden) daily visitor quota.
West Lodge Rural Centre LTD Tickets, Products, Bundles, Membership Plans, Gift Vouchers - Buy Online
We are taking and filing daily screen-shots of their on-line booking calendar. Tomorrow and Friday were sold out, but now have availability.
They must be actively managing their web-site and increasing their (hidden) daily visitor quota.
West Lodge Rural Centre LTD Tickets, Products, Bundles, Membership Plans, Gift Vouchers - Buy Online
taun
Well-Known Member
Booking a slot but not actually processing them adds to the tally. So until they are cleared from the basket no one else will be able to book for that day (if sold out), which may explain what you are seeing here.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Not on our system it doesn't - how do you know that is the way theirs works?
taun
Well-Known Member
Because I tried it, added a load of tickets to my basket so the day was sold out. Then left them there, went back on the site still said sold out. removed them from my basket and now you can book on that date.
Some online baskets are better than others, for Liverpool football club it kicks you out and removes items from your basket after 45mins. B&Q seems the same as above as I have had items in my basket for weeks while I work out everything I need to re-do my duck enclosure.
Your system is the best system as its stops people sitting on tickets. Not everyone will be savvy enough to make sure they have the right system for them in place.
Andrew Swales
Well-Known Member
Thanks, for trying it
We've never used such before, and would never have guessed other systems would have such a major flaw.
taun
Well-Known Member
Thanks, for trying it
We've never used such before, and would never have guessed other systems would have such a major flaw.
No problem, well hopefully the pressure mounting from the zoo world will see all zoos that can open safely to do so.
Local MPs to Chester Zoo have now written a letter to government regarding the matter.
A definite advantage of Chester putting themselves out there on this is that they have one of the better relationships with the local authorities, as it seems - which can only help.
The local authority have also announced their support for the zoo on social media.