Coronavirus update from Jersey Zoo
MONDAY 23 MARCH UPDATE Sadly, due to the developing situation surrounding coronavirus and the Government's latest advice on social distancing, Jersey Zoo will be closed from tomorrow, Tuesday 24 March, until further notice. This has been a very difficult decision, but, as always the safety and welfare of our visitors, animals and staff are our top priority so, unfortunately, closing our gates is the only option to reduce the spread of COVID-19. During this unsettling time, our dedicated team of keepers, vets and other direct support staff will ensure that all our animals continue to receive the very best care and we will endeavour to keep our loyal members, visitors and supporters updated on news from the zoo and our projects around the world. We understand these are uncertain times for everyone and we are so grateful for the continued support of our members, visitors, adopters and donors. As a charity, we rely solely on this support to look after over 1,000 animals here at Jersey Zoo and to continue our vital conservation work protecting the planet’s most precious ecosystems and wildlife.
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FRIDAY 20 MARCH UPDATE At this time Jersey Zoo remains open, however, as of Saturday 21 March all of the indoor exhibits will be closed to the public to ensure the safety of visitors, animals and staff. Areas affected by this include the Reptile and Amphibian House, Butterfly Kaleidoscope, Island Bat Roost, Gerald Durrell Story and the indoor spaces at the bear, gorilla and orangutan enclosures. Currently, all hand-washing and toilet facilities remain open. Both Café Firefly and Café Dodo now have a reduced menu and will serve only takeaway options. We have removed the tables from the indoor areas, however, we have tables set up in the outdoor areas, allowing visitors to still enjoy the zoo in a safe manner. The Durrell Charity Shop is closed until further notice. We will keep our members and visitors updated on any changes.
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TUESDAY 17 MARCH UPDATE Jersey Zoo is currently open with visiting hours remaining the same. However, Durrell members and visitors will be notified of any changes. The zoo has been closely monitoring the situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) and following the recommended guidelines provided by the States of Jersey Government.
The safety and welfare of the animals, visitors and staff are always a top priority at Jersey Zoo. Therefore the daily Keeper Talks have been cancelled until further notice, the children’s indoor play area is now closed and, in order to protect animals and staff, the animal experiences involving gorillas, orangutans and bats will be rescheduled.
There are several hand-washing locations around the zoo, including the Durrell Discovery Centre, Café Firefly and Café Dodo, which are regularly cleaned to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and animals. During this time of heightened concern on the island, these practices have been increased.
Spending time in the spacious, natural grounds of the zoo is relatively low-risk, and it is beneficial for your physical and mental health to be outdoors surrounded by wildlife. Just remember to keep washing your hands regularly during your visit. But if you are experiencing symptoms of the illness, please refrain from visiting the zoo until you have recovered.
Sadly, Durrell has had to make the difficult decision to cancel or postpone all zoo events until the end of May. Cancelled events include the Members’ Day, Wild Easter Weekend and Love Your Zoo Week, and postponed events include the Durrell Challenge and Really Wild Day.
The new date for the Durrell Challenge and Really wild Day is 27th September 2020. All runners who have already registered for the Durrell Challenge 2020 will automatically have their entries deferred to the new date, and the event team will be in contact with all entrants over the next few weeks to share details of the registration process.
For overseas runners, the Durrell Challenge team plan to introduce a virtual run in the case that you are not able to visit Jersey in September. Full details will be shared in the near future.
For Durrell Challenge VIPs and fundraisers, Durrell kindly asks that you continue with your incredible fundraising efforts as the Trust's work does not stop during this global pandemic. The spread of coronavirus is thought to have started in wildlife markets, which exacerbate the spread of diseases between animals and people. The planet, and the species we all share it with, is under threat and wildlife markets and the illegal wildlife trade are only increasing these pressures. Durrell’s work protecting habitats and endangered species has never been more vital.
The Durrell Challenge team will be contacting each VIP runner shortly to update on plans for the new event date. The Really Wild Day and Wild Quest have also been postponed, but tickets that have been pre-purchased will be valid for the new date of 27th September 2020.
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