CANBERRA, Apr 28 (NNN-AGENCIES) – The Australian government announced a support package for the nation’s zoos, to help them feed and care for their animals during COVID-19 closures.
Simon Birmingham, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, today announced a 94.6-million-Australian-dollar (61-million-U.S.-dollar) lifeline for zoos, wildlife parks and aquariums, which have their revenue streams crippled by social distancing restrictions that have forced them to close.
More than 100 facilities across Australia will be eligible to apply for a share of the funding, which will help pay for costs such as food, power, water and veterinary bills.
Birmingham said the survival of the sector would be critical to help the broader tourism industry recover from the pandemic.
“We know our world-class zoos and aquariums are major tourism draw-cards for many of our major cities and regional centres, with over 20 million visitors walking through the gates each year,” he said.
“We also shouldn’t underestimate the huge positive flow-on effects our zoos and aquariums provide to our economy. They bring thousands of visitors into communities, who then spend millions of dollars visiting other attractions, sleeping in our hotels and dining in our restaurants.”
A chimpanzee enclosure, like that at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, can cost more than 500,000 Australian dollars (322.652 U.S. dollars) per year.
Environment Minister, Sussan Ley, said, the funding would also allow zoos and aquariums to continue caring for thousands of animals that were either injured or displaced in the summer’s devastating bushfires.
“While COVID-19 may be keeping visitors away, zookeepers, aquarium owners and veterinarians continue to play a lead role in wildlife recovery after the bushfires, from treatment and rehabilitation to the development of insurance populations,” she said in media release.
“At the same time, they are caring for millions of animals, who live permanently within their network and this is critical funding to support the welfare of those animals, along with the vital ongoing role zoos play in conserving our environment and protecting native species.”– NNN-AGENCIES
