COLCHESTER Zoo will reopen to the public today for the first time in almost three months.

The beloved attraction has been closed since March 23, when Government lockdown restrictions were introduced to help fight coronavirus.

The eleven week closure has had a huge financial impact on the zoo, with it costing around £25,000 a day to run the facility.

During the closure, director Dominique Tropeano expressed serious concerns over the future of the zoo.

And with visitor numbers set to be restricted over the traditionally busiest months of July and August, bosses have warned it isn’t out of the woods just yet.

Dr Tropeano said: “Thursday will mean evaluating what the paying customers perception of the zoo, as it is today, will be.

"We have had to adapt to maintain the current social distancing but also ensure we adhere to what is expected of us.

“It has been very challenging, some days emotional, some sleepless nights, from ensuring we all remain safe to ensuring we survive as an organisation.

“Everyone who works for the zoo is aware now of the feeling people have for us and we will do our very best to ensure we will maintain high standards and complete dedication to our mission.

“We are a bunch of determined fighters here at Colchester Zoo and we will give it our very best to ensure we remain one of the leading zoos in the country, we and the people of Colchester can be proud of.”

The majority of Colchester Zoo is open-air and will remain open, but some enclosures will remain shut.

New safety measures including a socially distanced walking route and hygiene stations will be in place and visitors must book online before arrival. Staff have asked visitors for patience as they adjust to the new way of working.

Dr Tropeano said: “We hope it goes well, this is not luck but good planning, a great deal of work by all the colleagues I have here at the zoo have made this reopening achievable for people to enjoy.

“We hope to bring joy and relaxation after what has been a very difficult three months. Thank you for your support.”

Several changes are being made at the zoo

  • In the interests of keeping staff and visitors safe, only a limited number of people will be allowed to visit the attraction at one time to make social distancing easier.
  • Online bookings must be made in advance, even for passholders, and a time of entry must be booked for the day of the visit.
  • A number of new hand sanitiser stations have been set up throughout the facility, and guests are encouraged to use these as regularly as possible.
  • A socially distanced route around the zoo’s enclosures has been designed to keep people apart as much as possible and will be signposted for visitors.
  • No keeper talks will take place for the foreseeable future, until Government restrictions change.
  • Several areas inside the zoo will also be closed to the public over the coming weeks.
  • This includes children’s play area and some enclosed spaces inside the Maldon Road attraction.

To find out more about the new rules, visit colchester-zoo.com.