Zoo staff who can’t take their work home with them

THE ZOOS and aquariums may be closed but their staff are another set of workers unable to work from home.

At Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park near York, staff are continuing to go into work to look after their 700 animals and fish.

The park, part of Askham Bryan College, would have been preparing for half-term next week under a Pride theme, complete with rainbow flags.

But staff are determined to make the best of it and have been doing everything from bulkbuying salad leaves for their resident Sulcata tortoises to making their own facemasks.

Park manager Caroline Howard said: “We have shifted online and are now making vlogs and storytimes about the animals. One of our students who is Norwegian also volunteered to stay and help out in lockdown. It’s actually been quite fun. We’ve

Caroline Howard, park manager at Askham Bryan Wildlife and Conservation Park.

all been enjoying a bit of quality time with the animals.”

Askham Bryan normally gets up to 25,000 annual visitors to see its 150 species at weekends and in school holidays, while its students learn about the care of wild animals during the week.

The park has an aquarium and reptile house and currently has creatures such as iguanas, armadillos, lemurs and marmosets.

Concerns have been raised that some primates and mustelids – such as ferrets, skunks and otters – could be affected by coronavirus, so facemasks are being worn at all times, Ms Howard added.

“We have had two staff who had to self-isolate but one has been making facemasks for us,” she said. “We are unbelievably lucky to be part of the college as we have had a lot of support, compared to some of the other zoos.”

We’ve all been enjoying a bit of quality time with the animals.