Crowds queue for the zoo

HUNDREDS of animal lovers queued to get in to Dublin Zoo yesterday as it reopened.

A maximum of 500 people are permitted at any one time and strict social distancing measures will ensure the safety of visitors and staff.

Excited groups of family and friends made their way inside the zoo for its official reopening after its gates were shut to the public 11 weeks ago.

Georgina Kendrick, Jackie Cunningham and children George and Teddy Kendrick were among the first in line.

Ms Kendrick, who has an annual pass, usually visits the zoo once a month with her children.

She said: “We’ve really missed it during the lockdown.

“The kids have missed it and have been asking for it all the time, so we got really excited when we heard it has reopened.

“We are lucky we live in Clontarf so we are beside the park, but this is something a bit different.

“We have brought our wipes and have hand sanitiser and we will all keep our distance and it’s open air and I also have a potty for George.”

Nicola and Stephanie Mark were also among the first groups of people to visit the zoo. Stephanie said: “We haven’t been out in so long and we have the annual pass.

“It’s been affecting Sean because he loves school and he’s not sleeping at night because he’s not getting to go to school.

“We can’t go anywhere and are stuck at home.

“It’s open air and we have briefed the children that we are not allowed to get in anyone’s personal space and we have sanitiser.”

The zoo has implemented a one-way system and visits are divided into two sessions per day, while it will have less than 10% of its usual capacity.