Starting the new year with another nationwide lockdown really wasn’t the way that any of us wanted to begin 2021, but we’re doing our very best to remain positive and trying to keep visitors connected with their favourite zoo.
Our Live Virtual Zoo Days, which we aim to broadcast over some of our social media channels every other Friday, have been incredibly popular and have raised lots and lots of smiles, and helped many people with their home-schooling. We’ve also made over 200 free educational resources available on our website which are helping thousands of schools, parents and children up and down the country learn about wildlife conservation, animal biology and science.
Ultimately though, extended periods of time with no visitor income is a worry for the zoo, as ticket sales are what we mostly rely on to keep our charity zoo going. We’re now into a second month of this latest lockdown and, with no indication as to when it might end, it’s still costing us £1.6m per month to care for the animals and we simply refuse to cut corners on their welfare. January and February are traditionally our quietest months but still we estimate the current lockdown has cost us another £3/4m - £1m in additional losses so far.
Have more staff been furloughed this time around, if so, how has this impacted upon the business?
Ultimately though, extended periods of time with no visitor income is a worry for the zoo, as ticket sales are what we mostly rely on to keep our charity zoo going. We’re now into a second month of this latest lockdown and, with no indication as to when it might end, it’s still costing us £1.6m per month to care for the animals and we simply refuse to cut corners on their welfare. January and February are traditionally our quietest months but still we estimate the current lockdown has cost us another £3/4m - £1m in additional losses so far.
Have more staff been furloughed this time around, if so, how has this impacted upon the business?
The zoo is having to make use of the Government’s furlough scheme, with some staff members on full time furlough and others on flexi furlough. This will help our charity to dampen the financial damage of this lockdown and help us to navigate through this tough period. Our expert teams of animal keepers and vets are still caring for the incredible species at the zoo around the clock to ensure that they receive the world-class care we are known for.
Many of our conservation projects are still ongoing despite some of the places in which we work overseas also being in lockdown and people working from home. It’s created an opportunity to catch up on planning and paperwork, which is often not particularly exciting but is nevertheless vitally important, so that when lockdowns are lifted we can get people back out on the ground and continue preventing extinction.
Many of our conservation projects are still ongoing despite some of the places in which we work overseas also being in lockdown and people working from home. It’s created an opportunity to catch up on planning and paperwork, which is often not particularly exciting but is nevertheless vitally important, so that when lockdowns are lifted we can get people back out on the ground and continue preventing extinction.
Can the zoo reveal how much money has or is being lost since the start of the third national lockdown at the start of January?
We estimate the current lockdown has cost us another £3/4m - £1m in additional losses so far and the pandemic as a whole has cost us close to £10m – a huge financial scar for any charity. This has been one of, if not the most challenging periods in our 90-year history and, as we’re unable to access the Government’s £100m Zoo Animals Fund due to its strict criteria, we’ve had to borrow substantial loans that will need to be paid back in the coming years.
The road ahead remains an uncertain one for us, but we will absolutely bounce back from this and continue to prevent extinction, which is what we do best.
Can you tell us more about the Government’s Zoo Animals Fund and why?
The road ahead remains an uncertain one for us, but we will absolutely bounce back from this and continue to prevent extinction, which is what we do best.
Can you tell us more about the Government’s Zoo Animals Fund and why?
While the Government has recognised the high running costs of caring for animals at zoos across the country, as it stands, the criteria excludes activities relating to conservation and education – which is our mission as a charity. As a conservation and education charity working to prevent extinction in more than 30 countries, it’s some of those valued conservation projects, vital scientific research, and education programmes both in the UK and overseas that are at risk. Our ask is simple – we need the Government to change the scheme so that the financial help reaches large charity zoos. Currently, with no tailored funding or support from the government, we must continue our fundraising efforts, calling on the goodwill, compassion and amazing actions of the public.
Is the zoo having to make any changes in the future, or now, to help keep the charity afloat?
Many ambitious new animal habitats that were planned, such as the Grasslands project which was due to open in 2022, have been side-lined for now. At the moment our aim has to be to navigate through this uncertain period and keep funding our vital conservation projects.
Why is it vital that people still support Chester Zoo? And, how can they support the zoo?
The whole zoo team has been completely overwhelmed by the love, kindness and generosity that has been shown to us over the last 10 months since this awful pandemic began. It really is quite clear that Chester Zoo is so much more than a zoo to so many. Our 80 conservation and education projects span more than 30 different countries and, paired with vital breeding programmes and innovative scientific work at the zoo, we are preventing the extinction of highly threatened species. That must continue even through the toughest of times.
People can support the zoo in a number of ways. They can purchase a gift from our online gift shop, adopt their favourite animal, become a member, start a fundraising challenge or simply donate to our charitable cause: https://www.chesterzoo.org/support-us/. We really do appreciate every bit of support – it makes a huge difference to us.
People can support the zoo in a number of ways. They can purchase a gift from our online gift shop, adopt their favourite animal, become a member, start a fundraising challenge or simply donate to our charitable cause: https://www.chesterzoo.org/support-us/. We really do appreciate every bit of support – it makes a huge difference to us.
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