SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) — Guests have been welcomed back to the NEW Zoo in Suamico.
Guests say it’s good to be back after months of ‘Safer-at-Home’ Coronavirus closures.
“It means a lot to get outside again, especially with two little kids,” Stephanie, who was visiting the zoo with her daughters on Monday, said. “They’re really happy, running around.”
It’s not just the visitors that are happy to return. The animals, too, are happy to see people again. Carmen Murach is the zoo’s curator of animals, she says staff have noticed some animals, such as bears, lions, and monkeys, engaging in different play behaviors and sleeping in different, more visible places since guests have returned. The peacocks, allowed to roam the zoo freely, have been showing off their tail feathers more.
“When we were shut down, we made sure we upped the enrichment and gave them lots of things to do,” Murach told WTAQ. “But there’s there’s no denying that some of them really enjoy people watching.”
While you can visit your favorite animals again, there are some pandemic related restrictions to follow. Social distancing markers mark the walkways around the zoo grounds, urging guests to stay six feet–or a Lion’s length–away from one another. Some high-touch activities are also limited.
Zoo Director Neil Anderson says full reopening will come in phases.
“Right now we’re in phase one, so we’ve got the zoo open except for things like the train, the carousel, the playground,” Anderson said Monday.
Staff are wearing masks and gloves, and not only to protect the guests.
“There is evidence that [some animals] are susceptible to COVID-19,” Murach said. “So we’re treating them much like we treat co-workers and other humans.”
That’s not much of an adjustment for zookeepers already concerned about zoonotic viral transmission. Zookeepers regularly wear masks and gloves around animals like the Japanese Macaque, a species of monkey known to be susceptible to several illnesses that also impact humans. Big cats such as lions and lynx are also believed to be able to catch COVID-19, along with animals like giraffes.
As the phased reopening continues, hours are limited to 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily. Zoo entry will occur through Gate Z2, located immediately to the north of the Visitor Center. A maximum of 1,000 guests will be allowed in the park at a time.
