Park life: Animals at zoo missing the interaction with visitors
SOME of the animals at Tayto Park are missing human visitors and interaction, the zoo’s manager has said.
Park manager Lee Donohoe said: “Normally at this stage of the year we have a few thousand people walking around the grounds.
“Some of the animals interact with the public, so there’s a stimulus there for them, but because we are closed for three months some of the animals are used to quiet periods.
“We have a few rare birds at the moment, including the Japanese cranes, which are sitting on nests so some peace and quiet won’t do them any harm.
“I am definitely seeing more bird life in the park now. However, animals need as much stimulation as possible so they will get a kick out of it when it reopens to the public.”
The park, which closes for three months of the year, was ready to reopen around St Patrick’s Day. However, due to Covid-19 restrictions the park had to keep the gates shut.
The zoo is home to more than 300 individual animals and 80 different species and breeds, including American bison, tigers and mountain lions, as well as an open farm with small livestock.
The zoo already has disease prevention measures in place because it quarantines animals arriving from overseas.
“Most big zoos have a disease surveillance programme,” Mr Donohoe added.
“Social distancing is less of a challenge for us than those working elsewhere because we have 110 acres to work in.”
While many of the park’s staff work from home, the zookeeping team is working around the four animal sections.