Fed up of sitting at home? Try a walk on the wild side...
A STROLL through the park, though a welcome escape, might be getting just a little monotonous at this stage of lockdown.
But the residents of one town in West Lothian have been given the chance to take in some really wild views during their daily exercise.
Five Sisters Zoo, in West Calder, has kept its gates open to allow locals to walk around the open-air sections of the 15-acre site for free.
Guests can catch sight of more than 160 species of wildlife, including lions, bears, Arctic wolves and snow leopards. The park has been largely closed during the pandemic, but owners Brian and Shirley Curran wanted to ‘lift spirits’ during lockdown.
Track and trace details are taken on entry and masks and social distancing are encouraged. All indoor areas have been closed.
A spokesman for the zoo said: ‘We have opened the grounds of the park to local residents to allow them to get outdoors and get some exercise.
‘There is no admission fee, however we do have a donation box on entry. Visitors must live within the local area and provide track and trace details.
‘We hope this will help anyone that is struggling throughout this lockdown and help lift their spirits by getting outdoors with the added bonus of seeing our wonderful animals.’
The zoo, which opened in 2005, suffered a serious loss in 2013 when a fire destroyed the reptile house and nearby buildings, killing 48 species.
The public raised tens of thousands of pounds to help rebuild, with singer Susan Boyle among the donors.