Whilst we very much welcome that news of our plight has clearly now caught the attention of politicians, the update from yesterday’s meeting of MPs doesn’t change the fact that we are still on a knife edge.
What we really need to know are the details of any discussed financial support as we are yet to receive a clear plan of action. Every day the zoo is forced to remain closed, is another day closer to our gates staying shut forever.
Sadly, we anticipate we may have to make redundancies among our dedicated staff and have already opened a voluntary release scheme. Vital conservation efforts are being stripped back and we need a resolution, the situation is urgent.
The most effective support the government could provide right now, is to allow us – just like car showrooms, non-essential shops and other outdoor gardens – to put in place our already council approved Covid-secure plan to reopen safely, and continue to prevent extinction.