A leading UK animal park association voices grave concern of government’s £95 million Zoos Animal Fund amid COVID 19.
Last week (January 20) the British and Irish Association for Zoos and Aquarium (BIAZA) revealed that only 28 zoos out of over 300 licence holders had received financial support from the £95 million Zoos Animal Fund.
The news comes as the UK Government extends the Fund’s application window by an additional four weeks (until February 26). While the move has been welcomed by BIAZA, officials at the Association worry current applications could disappear, leaving many British animal parks in grave danger through 2021.
A troubling year
The impacts of the pandemic have wreaked tremendous devastation on UK aquariums, zoos and safari parks who rely heavily on admission and gift shop sales to gain income.
With previous social distancing capacity, a second national lockdown currently in place and still an abundance of animals to care for, a heart-breaking number of British animal parks have lost millions in revenue.
Video shows how Chester Zoo has adapted through the pandemic
A recent survey by the Association found 24 BIAZA members (almost the same number of animal parks that had accessed the Fund) were at risk of permanent closure in the next 12 months. Despite this, 80 per cent of participants also stated grants through Zoos Animal Fund could help them to survive.
BIAZA urges the UK Government to roll out grants across animal parks quickly before these grave worries become realities. A statement read: “The Association is expecting a number of organisations could close for good without Government action. This would be a disaster for conservation, for communities, economies and importantly for the animals they care for.”
Sharing her concerns, Cerian Tatchley, Joint Acting Director of BIAZA said: “Extension is welcome but not good enough if the majority of zoos remain excluded from help. Help is needed for the months of the pandemic ahead not just four weeks.
Adding: “I am seriously worried what many zoos will do after February. Government has said they are willing to spend the remaining £95 million for zoos in need, we cannot allow those funds to disappear.
“We need Government Ministers to commit this to a new scheme to benefit all zoos and aquariums as they face their own fight against extinction.”
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