Chester Zoo Chester Zoo told to prepare to remain closed indefinitely

A pretty forceful press release coming from Chester on the indefinite closure this morning: Chester Zoo told to prepare to remain closed ‘indefinitely' putting the future survival of the zoo at risk | Chester Zoo.

Selected quotes from Jamie Christon:

 

The only thing that will work at this point is a bloody petition to the government. It's frankly ridiculous that large open areas across the country are being reopened but zoos are forced to stay shut. At this point I won't be ****ing surprised if the animal rights lobbyists have had a say in this.

 

It won't.

(IMO)

 

Likely, but it is better than doing nothing.

 

I’m pretty sure that animal rights lobbyists have zero influence on the Tory government on this matter.

Nonetheless if people want this situation to change then signing petitions and writing to their MPs is a way to voice their concerns and show the authorities that this matters to people - and the economy.

 

The general opinion on here seems to be that it is just (continuous and repeated) Government bungling and mistakes - nothing more. Anything else is dismissed as a conspiracy theory.

 

I would point you in the direction of Boris Johnson's current girlfriend.

 

Sadly it wont as someone is still in a job. Face the facts, this government don't care about you, your business or the things you like to fill your spare time doing.

 

Chester Zoo will feature on BBC breakfast tomorrow.

 

There's a petition on Change.org to save the zoos:
Sign the Petition

 

None of them, of whatever persuasion, care about anything but themselves until there's an election in the offing, and then they only pretend. IMHO.

 

No, Dave's right. This is a matter of Zac Goldsmith doing his pal and co-trustee Damian a favour. Unless significant pressure can't be brough to bear on Johnson - not too hard, as he has no scruples and no shame - Goldsmith will keep zoos shut until there are only two left standing.

 

Please make sure that someone keeps a copy of it. None of us have any idea where this matter is going, and all evidence of every twist and turn needs to be documented and saved.

It would also be of interest if someone would ask why the ZooFund was announced in Parliament (whilst Boris and his girlfriend were ill) at £100m, but as soon as he was back was reduced to £14m. The media refuse to raise the question, and I can find no reference to any of the big zoos or BIAZA asking either.

 

What is infered by the word 'indefinately'? I thought zoos opening had simply been deferred to an as yet undisclosed later date e.g. July, this sounds even worse...

 

It means that it has not been confirmed to reopen in July as it is not on the list of sites to reopen as of yet, they don't have any certainty in the reopening date of the zoo. It may be July, but it is likely that it is going to be longer.

 

Why is it likely? Could you post your source for this.

Some BIAZA zoos are opening next Wednesday, 10th June.
Thus, contradicting what the organisation states on its own web-site BIAZA Statement - Legal Closure of Zoos & Aquariums in England | Biaza - which in itself contradicted the internal BIAZA statement Exmoor published earlier, which included 'farm-attractions'.
Miss-information and confusion is not limited to the Government...

 

In terms of what has been made public, this is the case. I'm not aware of anything to rule out July, though of course nothing can be ruled in for certain either as it stands.

 

Opening (not, planning on opening!) - all English branches of the Wildfowl Trust -
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Rather surprised to read this morning the WWT Slimbridge as well as their other English centres will be re-opening from June 10th . Really pleased to see this , BUT they are licensed as Zoos so do not understand this .

If this true, then it cranks up the stupidity and discrimination further, as not only are they licensed zoos, but they are BIAZA members - and one of BIAZA's opening criteria is that walk-through exhibits are to be kept closed. Have BIAZA made any comment?
edit - just checked ZTL and Slimbridge has the following taxa in addition to its ducks, geese, swans and flamingos - 1 fish, 37 amphibians, 4 wild mammals + 1 breed of domestic mammal.
Not just legally a zoo, but physically a zoo!