Twycross Zoo reopening its doors this week, but with limited visitors...
TWYCROSS Zoo re-opened its doors on Monday (June 15) but with restrictred number of visitors allowed on site and the zoo is only accepting online ticket bookings with an allocated timeslot.
Visitors will not be able to purchase admission tickets from the ticket kiosks at Twycross Zoo.
A spokesman said: “In line with government guidance, we’ve made some changes to our zoo operations to ensure we keep all of our visitors and staff safe.
“Twycross Zoo is a mainly an outdoor attraction, spread across 100-acres, but still we can get very busy. The safety of our visitors is our top priority and we will be operating at 5% visitor capacity to begin with, and will gradually move this up to 30%, which we believe allows adequate space for all visitors to enjoy a safe day out.
“The safety of staff, visitors and animals is our top priority and we have reviewed all of our zoo operations and made numerous ‘Covid-19 Secure’ changes across Twycross Zoo to maximise safety. These changes include the following, but please be advised that that government guidance may change, meaning our safety measures may change slightly too;
“Our visitor entrance has changed. Please look out for new signage when you arrive that will point you in the direction of our outdoor entrance by the side of the Himalaya Welcome
Centre.
“We have implemented a one-way route around Twycross Zoo so visitors can enjoy their day and avoid crowds. Download the Twycross Zoo App to follow this. There will also be arrows, signage and barriers to mark the way.
“We have installed protective screens at Admission Kiosks, Guest Services, the Gift Shop and Catering Kiosks.
“Guest Services will be open, however only one household group will be able to enter at any given time.
We have closed all indoor animal viewing areas, play areas (including soft play and Wet ‘n’ Wild) and the Himalaya Welcome Centre (excluding the Gift Shop) until further notice. These closures will be reviewed periodically in line with government guidelines.
“Animal talks are postponed to avoid encouraging crowds. Food and drink will be available on a grab-and-go takeaway basis from The Catch Fish Bar as well as outdoor kiosks around the zoo.
“Face coverings are not compulsory however some members of our team may choose to wear them. Visitors can purchase face masks from our Gift Shop. Please remember to pay by contactless card if you can.
“In our toilet facilities, we ask our visitors to follow 2-metre social distancing, and if cubicles are engaged please queue outside. We ask visitors to remember to wash hands before and after using our toilet facilities. If you need to pass another person whilst entering or exiting, in line with government guidance, we ask that you turn your back to them as you walk past. A member of our team will regularly check on toilet facilities across the zoo, ensuring they are clean and soap dispensers are full.
“We ask that we all work together to follow social distancing around Twycross Zoo, and we politely remind our visitors to keep 2-metres apart from visitors from other households. Social distancing markers and signage are located around our zoo as reminders. Visitors who persistently disregard the government’s social distancing guidelines will be asked to leave.”
The zoo has made no secret over the last few months of the financial difficulty they find themselves in due to COVID-19.
It costs over half a million pounds a month to keep the zoo operating and providing the high quality of care for their endangered animals that the zoo, quite rightly, refuse to compromise on.
Back in April, Twycross Zoo launched a donations campaign to ‘Celebrate its past and protect its future’, and indeed saving the 57-year old zoo from extinction. This campaign has so far raised over £100,000.
Visit www.twycrosszoo.org for more information.