No income, 2,000 mouths to feed: Lockdown expresses the Greek zoo

ATHENS, Greece (AP): It’s time to feed at the only zoo in Greece and a capuchin monkey grabs as many tangerines as he can, even putting one in his long, flexible tail. It might be advisable to stock up.

After being closed for almost three months due to COVID-19, the zoo on the outskirts of Athens could be on the verge of extinction: no paying visitors or, unlike other European zoos, enough aid. government to meet their very particular needs, Attica Zoo faces huge bills to keep 2,000 animals well fed and healthy.

“As things stand … we can still continue for at least a month,” said zoo founder and CEO Jean Jacques Lesueur. “After that, we don’t know.”

Unlike some companies forced to close temporarily due to virus control restrictions, the zoo continues to have significant operating expenses. Between food, wages, utilities, medical care and other expenses, the cost of caring for the animals currently exceeds 200,000 euros ($ 243,000) per month.

“This is the difference between us and other companies: when they close they close. We close, but we don’t close, “Lesueur told The Associated Press.

Founded in 2000 and located in the city of Spata, the zoo occupies 20 hectares and hosts 290 species, from elephants to prairie dogs. It participates in education, conservation and breeding and belongs to the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which has about 400 members.

Having to close again on November 7 after the two-month spring closure in Greece came at a bad time for the Attica Zoo. The zoo normally operates year-round, but does much of its business in cooler weather “because in Greece people go to the beaches, to the islands and don’t visit zoos” in the summer, said Frenchman Lesueur .

Visitors account for more than 99% of their revenue, coming from ticket sales, food and beverage and gift shops. Therefore, the monthly income counts and the December loss, usually occupied due to the Christmas holidays, was particularly strong.

So far, providers have shown understanding and accept credits. Two-thirds of the zoo’s staff are available to the state and a planned share of state aid will take care of this month’s pay for the rest, the CEO said.

The zoo has also sold 5,000 advance tickets at discounted prices by the end of the closing, and Lesueur says this helped pay the December salaries.

The blockade also affects zoo residents, accustomed to the crowd of humans. For almost three months, they have only seen their guardians. So the tables turned when an AP reporter visited her last week: several curious animals and birds approached her to look good.

“Animals miss the visitor, because it’s part of their life,” Lesueur said. “All the animals you see (here) are born in other zoos. They are used to people.

To date, Greece has recorded some 150,000 confirmed COVID-19 infections and some 5,800 pandemic deaths. After surpassing 3,300 in November, the number of new daily cases remains at three digits.

However, the Athens region remains the hardest hit area in the country and authorities said on Friday they will reimpose tougher blockade restrictions there after a fall in January infection rates reversed this week.

In general, Lesueur says he is optimistic that the zoo will get permission to reopen in the coming weeks.

“Unless the COVID (situation) gets worse. That’s another story, “he said. “Now, if we’re locked up for two or three more months, I really don’t know what will happen.”

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