UK zoos & lockdown going forward...

Andrew Swales said:
I have just had this email bounce in to my in-box, which is one local response to the BIAZA approach. I've deleted the names, but post it here otherwise un-edited, in case it helps:

Andrew

A little tip from an ex District Councillor:

When you receive a lot of mail in your mailbox that is obviously a template, one hundred emails have the effect of only one or two emails.

In fact I used to find it aggravating when it happened to me.

It is much more compelling when the emails are individually written in the words of the sender, that way xxxxxxxx will read five to ten of them to get a few different perspectives, and then decide his response.

I think there is a strong probability that he will listen to a simple argument using no more than 5 bullet points if at all possible.

Kindest regards
xxx
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As a civil servant in a former life, I can confirm that this is the case. I did add some comments relating solely to Paignton Zoo to my email but, on reflection, I should probably have placed them at the beginning rather than the end. Maybe Paignton's MP won't be overwhelmed by messages and he or his aides will actually read it.
 
Gigit said:
As a civil servant in a former life, I can confirm that this is the case. I did add some comments relating solely to Paignton Zoo to my email but, on reflection, I should probably have placed them at the beginning rather than the end. Maybe Paignton's MP won't be overwhelmed by messages and he or his aides will actually read it.
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Thanks Gigit. I tacked it onto yours, simply because it was the most recent, for everyone's eyes...
 
Thank you @Quincey and @Andrew Swales

There are no zoos in my MP's constituency, but there are quite a few nearby, including some big names. Will make sure my email only refers to zoos in general though
 
Andrew Swales said:
I have just had this email bounce in to my in-box, which is one local response to the BIAZA approach. I've deleted the names, but post it here otherwise un-edited, in case it helps:

Andrew

A little tip from an ex District Councillor:

When you receive a lot of mail in your mailbox that is obviously a template, one hundred emails have the effect of only one or two emails.

In fact I used to find it aggravating when it happened to me.

It is much more compelling when the emails are individually written in the words of the sender, that way xxxxxxxx will read five to ten of them to get a few different perspectives, and then decide his response.

I think there is a strong probability that he will listen to a simple argument using no more than 5 bullet points if at all possible.

Kindest regards
xxx
Click to expand...

As another "ex District Councillor" I would agree entirely with that advice. Read the template, then put it aside and write in your own words. If you miss out one or two points from the template and add one or two additional personal points all the better.
 
Pertinax said:
Extended closure of Zoos now making the news, BBC Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show today...
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Excellent coverage on the J Vine show (he's not always been particularly sympathetic to zoos previously). Lots of people saying the same sort of thing that is being said here. Chester CEO came over well. Disappointing that the old story of Neumunster Zoo supposedly culling animals to feed others was dragged out again. Hmmmm... But the momentum has to be moving in the right direction...

Human interest provided by an eight year old girl who is fundraising for Noah's Ark. She had raised £100 or so. Already, less than an hour later, she's gone beyond £3,600 (in the time it's taken me to type this post it's risen by a couple of hundred pounds). Extraordinary what a bit of positive coverage can do. Shame she wasn't a visitor at Hamerton!
 
sooty mangabey said:
Chester CEO came over well. Disappointing that the old story of Neumunster Zoo supposedly culling animals to feed others was dragged out again. Hmmmm... But the momentum has to be moving in the right direction...
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Yes, I think they always have to present another 'angle' e.g. the tabloid 'threat' of animals being euthanased etc. Anyway, it was good prominent coverage so certainly can't do any harm. I didn't hear anyone saying they shouldn't be allowed to open now...
 
sooty mangabey said:
Excellent coverage on the J Vine show (he's not always been particularly sympathetic to zoos previously). Lots of people saying the same sort of thing that is being said here. Chester CEO came over well. Disappointing that the old story of Neumunster Zoo supposedly culling animals to feed others was dragged out again. Hmmmm... But the momentum has to be moving in the right direction...

Human interest provided by an eight year old girl who is fundraising for Noah's Ark. She had raised £100 or so. Already, less than an hour later, she's gone beyond £3,600 (in the time it's taken me to type this post it's risen by a couple of hundred pounds). Extraordinary what a bit of positive coverage can do. Shame she wasn't a visitor at Hamerton!
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We've had a couple of such sponsored walks round gardens etc in the last couple of weeks, one at least running into the teens. Doubtless the little girl was selected by the BBC from a number of callers...?

Pertinax said:
Yes, I think they always have to present another 'angle' e.g. the tabloid 'threat' of animals being euthanased etc. Anyway, it was good prominent coverage so certainly can't do any harm. I didn't hear anyone saying they shouldn't be allowed to open now...
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The threat tactics used by Neumunster have been copied elsewhere. Borth I think was euthanasing animals 'within a week', a couple of weeks ago.. You've got to be very ballsy to threaten something like this if you dont intend to go through with it, especially in England where the response is possibly going to be 'we don't believe you' or maybe 'go on then'. If you have got the balls then it does seem to be financially beneficial...
 
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ThomasNotTom said:
My comment is still waiting approval, but at the bottom of the DEFRA statement, an opportunity to respond is provided - I encourage anyone to leave a message, encouraging DEFRA to re-evaluate their stance on zoo closure :)
Chester Zoo and coronavirus - Defra in the media
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I've added a comment as well :)

Crowthorne said:
There are no zoos in my MP's constituency, but there are quite a few nearby, including some big names. Will make sure my email only refers to zoos in general though
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I've sent an email to my MP, but like you there aren't any zoos in my constituency, so we'll have to see what is made of it. I used bits of the BIAZA template interspersed with other comments more pertinent to my constituency (Old Southwark and Bermondsey).
 
littleRedPanda said:
well done sam from Chester for getting on the briefing



predictably rubbish answer though
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The answer was what I would have expected. The Japanese have a very strong sense of "face"; they are very keen not to be seen to be forced to step down from a position; it has to look as though it was of their own volition. I think we are seeing that here. (Not that Hancock is Japanese!)

We might want the Government to admit "we have got this wrong; we will reverse the policy immediately". They won't. But I sense things are moving the right way.

Isn't there a saying that "you catch more wasps with honey than with vinegar" ?
 
If nothing else, at least now the government can't act like they weren't aware. Can't say it hasn't been raised or didn't know there were problems. A message from Defra might have been nowhere near the cabinet but Matt Hancock talking about it on national television (however uselessly at the time) means they have no deniability now. And he acknowledged one of the key differences between zoos and other organisations - that the cost of animal care is ongoing whether they are open or not - so they also can't say they hadn't thought of that (not that that would be any kind of excuse anyway!).

If the government now fail to act they will have to face the repercussions for* any consequences knowing full well they were warned. Hopefully the idea that zoos can't wait too much longer will start to gain traction.



*I wrote 'take responsibility for' first, but I'm not sure anyone in this government has taken responsibility for anything at all since coming to power...
 
Whatever political persuasion, no point in slagging people off. Reopening the economy is a nightmare challenge.
A major error has been made on zoos, but publicity on this has been thankfully huge today. Govt. will now want a way out of this with minimal bad press. I think a plan will be made before 11th June debate, even if we don't hear until afterwards.
Knowing that £1.6 million will only last Chester 4 weeks adds to pressure on Govt. All should email MP's ,this is a national issue. It doesn't matter what part of country you and your MP are in. My MP response well to a few friendly lines. Nothing too formal.
 
Jonfla said:
A major error has been made on zoos, but publicity on this has been thankfully huge today. Govt. will now want a way out of this with minimal bad press. I think a plan will be made before 11th June debate, even if we don't hear until afterwards.
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Agree. I would foresee that some time soon after the 11th June debate, they will be allowed to reopen. You can't expect Matt Hancock to do more than 'fudge' over a question he's asked on live T.V.- he can't legislate 'live' but I think the last 48 hours of publicity has now raised the profile of our Zoos' predicament and things will hopefully go from there.
 
Andrew Swales said:
We've had a couple of such sponsored walks round gardens etc in the last couple of weeks, one at least running into the teens. Doubtless the little girl was selected by the BBC from a number of callers...?



The threat tactics used by Neumunster have been copied elsewhere. Borth I think was euthanasing animals 'within a week', a couple of weeks ago.. You've got to be very ballsy to threaten something like this if you dont intend to go through with it, especially in England where the response is possibly going to be 'we don't believe you' or maybe 'go on then'. If you have got the balls then it does seem to be financially beneficial...
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I don't see it as a sign of 'having the balls', more that some people are more happy to casually talk about the animals in their care being destroyed than others. For my part, I tend to be more supportive of those who DON'T resort to such shock tactics. Up until this week I did believe that the public responded best to the threats of animals dying, but I'm pleased that Chester have reversed that trend and managed to get a huge amount of support and sympathy whilst also coming across as caring. As others have already said, they've played a blinder here - although of course if they weren't already so famous I doubt it would have had a fraction of this impact. I'm still highly impressed, though.
 
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