Jersey Zoo gets ready to open its doors

Wednesday 06 May 2020

Jersey Zoo is preparing to open to islanders once again and has been thinking up ways to protect their staff and visitors, as well as their animals.

While no date has been set, the team says they are preparing to reopen the open-air 32-acre site “soon”.

Before they reopen, though, the team said they are implementing new measures in order to follow Government advice, and doing “everything we can to protect our staff, visitors and animals”.

As part of the measures, a maximum number of 500 visitors will be permitted to visit the zoo each day, entering at half-hour intervals between 09:30 and 16:00, allowing a maximum of 36 people into the zoo per time slot.  

Visitors will only be permitted to enter the zoo at the time slot they have booked. Tickets will have to be booked in advance online via Eventbrite for all visitors, including children under the age of three, to help the team manage numbers. 

All visitors and staff will wear face masks at all times and protective screening will be installed at contact points. Hand sanitiser points will also be installed around the site. 

Both the indoor and outdoor children’s play areas will remain closed as well as the gift shop. 

Pictured: Visitors will have to keep their distance from each other... unlike the meerkats.

Likewise, many of the indoor animal areas will be closed to the public and none of the Keeper Talks will take place.

Meanwhile, both cafés will offer takeaway options only and only card payments will be accepted.

The team also said they are doing all they can to keep the animals safe.

“Global experts currently do not know all of the effects covid-19 has on humans and animals,” they explained. “Our expert team of keepers and vets are taking every precaution to ensure the safety of all animals and staff at the zoo, and strict biosecurity measures are in place (and have been for a very long time!)."

But, despite all the changes being made to the Zoo's usual operation, the team assured that all animals in their care are enjoying "the same amount of love and attention that they are used to receiving all year round".