Irvine Park Zoo has reopened.
US zoos closed due to COVID-19 and duration
- Thread starter Great Argus
- Start date
Six Flags Great Adventure is opening their safari as a drive-thru, starting the 30th. Windows must stay up. Tickets are available starting today. You must purchase tickets, then go to a separate page to reserve your time slot. It looks like the reservation page is finally working, after being an absolute mess all day.
Elmwood Park has added two parking lot dates - sunday the 31st and sunday the 6th. It's ambassador animals and giraffes in their parking lot. 15 minute time slots, 10am-noon and then 1pm-3pm.
Elmwood Park has added two parking lot dates - sunday the 31st and sunday the 6th. It's ambassador animals and giraffes in their parking lot. 15 minute time slots, 10am-noon and then 1pm-3pm.
Snowleopardqueen
Well-Known Member
Binder park zoo near battle creek, Michigan is reopening may 29th at 9 am, per an email to members.
Sad to say, though these precautions are on their website, the zoo did not follow through. There was no one-way pathing, tickets could be bought at the gate (where I could’ve saved $7...), all exhibits were open, and there was no visit time limit. It was very crowded and almost nobody had a mask on.
One somewhat concerning trend I've observed as zoos are reopening: due to claimed restrictions with their online ticketing systems (which does seem plausible), a large portion of zoos are not currently honoring reciprocal membership discounts (for members of other AZA zoos and for AZA professional members). Do people think this will continue for the foreseeable future? I could especially see zoos who are in financial crunches due to having been closed reluctant to honor reciprocal discounts, although I think this is a bad idea in the long run. To me (and I suspect many other Zoochat members, but probably not too many people in the broader community), these reciprocal discounts make up a substantial portions of many zoo memberships' value propositions.
I Didn't see it anywhere on here but the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, NY is now open partially. They opened last weekend for the Holiday at a limited capacity of 500 per day with staggered entrance every 30 minutes. You have to reserve a time online by either buying tickets or using your membership. They are also checking temperatures at the front door and have a one way pay thru the zoo.
No inside exhibits are open and all food/retail spots are closed. Things like the discovery building, Carousel and other small activities are also closed. I believe this is the first zoo in NY to re-open, albeit a partial re-opening.
On a side note the smaller local zoo The Wild Animal Park nearby (Chittenango, NY) opened a new drive thru safari since they could not open the main zoo yet, it has about 100 animals and around 26 species including Asian Water Buffalo, Elk, American Bison, Eland, Dromedary Camels, Zebras and even an Amur Tiger exhibit at the end.
No inside exhibits are open and all food/retail spots are closed. Things like the discovery building, Carousel and other small activities are also closed. I believe this is the first zoo in NY to re-open, albeit a partial re-opening.
On a side note the smaller local zoo The Wild Animal Park nearby (Chittenango, NY) opened a new drive thru safari since they could not open the main zoo yet, it has about 100 animals and around 26 species including Asian Water Buffalo, Elk, American Bison, Eland, Dromedary Camels, Zebras and even an Amur Tiger exhibit at the end.
Jungle Man
Well-Known Member
Second zoo in US to close because of Covid-19:
Natchitoches Alligator Park in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Their closure reason is that as they only open in summer, they had no revenue on the winter plus half of the summer. Here is the complete article:
Natchitoches Alligator Park closing permanently; owner selling park and animals
Natchitoches Alligator Park in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
Their closure reason is that as they only open in summer, they had no revenue on the winter plus half of the summer. Here is the complete article:
Natchitoches Alligator Park closing permanently; owner selling park and animals
The walking sections of Wildwood Zoo will reopen June 1st. The Zoo Drive has been open this whole time.
Wisconsin Rapids Municipal Zoo will reopen June 5.
Menominee Park Zoo will reopen June 6.
Henry Vilas Zoo will reopen July 1. All paths will be one-way, all indoor areas will be closed, and the will only be open with 25% capacity.
Racine Zoo reopened May 29. Facemasks are required, all paths are one-way, and all indoor areas are closed.
Menominee Park Zoo will reopen June 6.
Henry Vilas Zoo will reopen July 1. All paths will be one-way, all indoor areas will be closed, and the will only be open with 25% capacity.
Racine Zoo reopened May 29. Facemasks are required, all paths are one-way, and all indoor areas are closed.
All of Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary except for the indoor areas and the free-flight aviary has reopened.
Snowleopardqueen
Well-Known Member
Cincinnati is opening June 10th for members, reserved tickets only, then starting June 17th open to public with reserved tickets.
Any other restrictions?
Not to start a fuss, but do any of you think it might be too risky for any US zoos to reopen at the moment? Even with their planned restrictions, the pandemic shows no signs of slowing down in the US as of right now, so I’m a bit concerned that zoos could become COVID-19 hotspots. Then again, I suppose enforcing social distancing at someplace as spread out as a zoo wouldn’t be too difficult, so perhaps I might be more worried than I should be. What do you all think?
Evidence so far indicates that basically all mass-spreading events happened in indoor spaces. As long as zoos leave all indoor spaces closed, enforce social distancing and people themselves maintain high hygiene to prevent nosocomial way of spread, I think opening zoos is not dangerous to its visitors. Despite still bad situation with covid19 in the US, I am not critical to reopening of your zoos.
I would be more worried about risk to susceptive animals if the virus is still so widespread in local population. It should be made impossible that public will try to feed them, pet them or throw them any items. If necessary, critical spots within zoo areal should be either closed off to public or overseen by docents.
The NEW Zoo will reopen June 10.
Snowleopardqueen
Well-Known Member
All indoor exhibits closed, there's a reopening faqs page here:
Reopening for Zoo Members Starting June 10! - Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden®
Snowleopardqueen
Well-Known Member
Snowleopardqueen
Well-Known Member
Columbus zoo reopening to members June 12th to 14, june 15th to general public, timed tickets required.
Reopening plan here:
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Reopening Plan
Reopening plan here:
Columbus Zoo and Aquarium - Reopening Plan
Snowleopardqueen
Well-Known Member
Louisville zoo is setting up to reopen, with an announcement expect next week. Miller park zoo opens june26, must call ahead for reservations. Mesker park zoo is planning on opening June 14th, and Cleveland zoo has announced they're opening June 17th.
JOSEPH E KOSIEK
Member
But when you get to the actual animals display people will get closer than 6 feet. Think about it who is going to keep the kids at 6 feet distance, they don't understand what is happening.