Zoos SA unable to reopen under current suggested restrictions

After careful consultation with South Australia’s Transition Committee, Zoos SA have advised that Adelaide Zoo and Monarto Safari Park will require further easing of restrictions until they can reopen.

With over 40,000 members and visitor numbers often into the thousands per day, Zoos SA do not believe the Transition Committee’s suggested cap on numbers or the use of a time-slot system at Adelaide Zoo, which would see groups permitted entry at various times of the day, will be workable, safe or fair to their visitors.

In a statement released today (2nd June 2020) Zoos SA note “our concerns would be that such limited numbers throughout the day would cause difficulty in managing bottlenecks at our entrances and that a time-limit would impinge greatly on visitors’ enjoyment. It is also not financially viable for us as the costs incurred in opening would not allow us to offset our expenditure.

“While the current outcome is disappointing and our members will be particularly disappointed by this news, we are grateful for the assistance and consideration shown to Zoos SA by the State Government. Most importantly, this means emergency funding to ensure our critical animal care is maintained. 

“We keenly await a time when restrictions have eased enough to allow us to reopen in a manner similar to zoos and wildlife parks in most other states. At this stage it appears that this will be on the 3rd July.”

Zoos SA remain hopeful that South Australia’s recovery from the pandemic will continue in its positive manner and that fast-tracking of restrictions will be introduced which will allow them to open sooner rather than later.