Dublin Zoo to re-open - but with strict new rules
Dublin Zoo has today, Monday, announced it will reopen to the public on June 2nd in a reduced capacity and under new strict health and safety protocols.
Tickets to attend Dublin Zoo must now be pre-booked online in advance, solely via the Dublin Zoo website. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.
Visits will be divided into two daily sessions, one morning and one afternoon, with a maximum of 500 people in each for an initial trial period.
The morning session will run from 9.30 -13.00 and an afternoon session from 14.00-17.30.
To ensure strict social distancing and new public health guidelines can always be adhered to at all times in Dublin Zoo, internal animal houses and enclosed habitat viewing areas, retail units, and playgrounds will be closed and so visitors will not be able to see the wolves, hippo, Waldrapp ibis, Amur tigers and the red pandas.
However, visitors will be able to see the majority of the animals including the herd of Asian elephants, chimpanzees, the Western lowland gorillas, giraffe, rhino, zebra, sealions, penguins, lemurs, orangutans, and lions.
Visitors will travel through the zoo by following a new outdoor, one-way walking route which reinforces strict social distancing. The outdoor route, also known as the Dublin Zoo Outdoor Safari Trail, will be noted on a map which will be available to all visitors.
Hand sanitiser stations will be available and there will be visible signage reinforcing physical distancing, hand-hygiene, coughing/sneezing etiquette. A new, enhanced cleaning regime has also been implemented and all Dublin Zoo personnel will be provided with, and trained in the safe and appropriate use of, relevant Personal Protective Equipment.
Speaking on the reopening of Dublin Zoo for the first time since March 12, Director of Dublin Zoo, Leo Oosterweghel said:
“Our priority during this reopening phase will be to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of our staff, visitors and the continued provision of world-class animal care. This will be a careful, phased reopening where we limit the number of entrants at any given time whilst establishing strict social distancing and hygiene measures, to protect both Dublin Zoo visitors and staff.”
Mr Oosterweghel said these past weeks have been a very challenging time for Dublin Zoo, but he extended thanks to the public for the thousands of messages staff had received extending their love and support to them.
To ensure strict social distancing and new public health guidelines can always be adhered to at all times in Dublin Zoo, internal animal houses and enclosed habitat viewing areas, retail units, and playgrounds will be closed to the public until further notice.
Due to enclosed habitat viewing areas, visitors will not be able to see the wolves, hippo, Waldrapp ibis, Amur tigers and the red pandas. However, visitors will be able to see the majority of the animals including the herd of Asian elephants, chimpanzees, the Western lowland gorillas, giraffe, rhino, zebra, sealions, penguins, lemurs, orangutans, and lions.