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

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

After almost 3 months of COVID-19 closure, the zoo could be on the road to extinction

Published: January 30, 2021 14:36 Last updated: January 31, 2021 09:15 AP and compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_88661.jpg-60a46-1612001886723 — Zoo curator Adonis Balas feeds three giraffes at the Attica Zoological Park in Spata, near Athens. After almost three months of closure due to COVID-19, Greece's only zoo could be on the road to extinction: With no paying visitors or - unlike other European zoos - enough government aid to cover its very particular needs, it faces huge bills to keep 2,000 animals fed and healthy. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_54458.jpg-8e446-1612001925592 — "As things are ... we still can go on for at least one month," zoo founder and CEO Jean Jacques Lesueur said. "After that, we don't know." | Above: A Sumatran tiger of licks it's lips as it lays down in the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_22073.jpg-51352-1612001870787 — Unlike some businesses forced to temporarily close due to virus-control restrictions, the zoo continues to have sizeable operating expenses. Between food, salaries, utilities, medical care and other expenses, the cost of caring for the animals currently exceeds 200,000 euros ($243,000) per month. | Above: An Angola lion looks on as it stands behind a glass wall. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_73463.jpg-9f5d9-1612001933601 — "That's the difference between us and other companies: When they close they close. We close, but we don't close," Lesueur told The Associated Press. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of APTOPIX_Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_51773.jpg-5eb58-1612001890802 — Founded in 2000 and located in the town of Spata, the zoo occupies 20 hectares (50 acres) and is home to 290 species, from elephants to prairie dogs. It's involved in education, conservation and breeding, and belongs to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, which has about 400 members. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_83445.jpg-a5422-1612001910780 — Zoo curator Adonis Balas feeds macaques at the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_66005.jpg-cc983-1612001879092 — Having to close again on November 7 after Greece's two-month spring lockdown came at a bad time for Attica Zoological Park. The zoo normally operates year-round but does a lot of its business during cooler weather "because in Greece people go to the beaches, to the islands, they don't visit zoos" in the summer, the French-born Lesueur said. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_54214.jpg-10662-1612001899521 — Visitors account for more than 99% of its revenue, from tickets, food and beverages and gift shop sales. So every month's revenue counts, and the loss of December, usually busy due to the Christmas holidays, was particularly heavy. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_72047.jpg-acb48-1612001902828 — So far, suppliers have shown understanding and are accepting credit. Two-thirds of the zoo's staff is on state-supported furlough, and an expected installment of state aid will take care of this month's pay for the rest, the CEO said. | Above: A touraco bird flies in the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_23656.jpg-ae160-1612001875095 — Zoo keeper Maria Malia prepares the food of two llamas in the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_85498.jpg-b2e0d-1612001882767 — The zoo also has sold 5,000 advance tickets at reduced prices for when the lockdown ends, and Lesueur says that helped pay December's salaries. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_21689.jpg-72c35-1612001922683 — Lockdown also affects the zoo's residents, accustomed as they are to crowds of humans. For nearly three months, they've only been seeing their keepers. So the tables were turned when an AP journalist visited last week: Several curious animals and birds came close for a good look. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_03172.jpg-95cc0-1612001895280 — "Animals miss visitors, because it's part of their life," Lesueur said. "All the animals you see (here) are born in other zoos. So they are used to people." | Above: Zoo keepers Alexis left and Christina prepare food for the animals. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_20145.jpg-cfc34-1612001918735 — An almost empty parking lot of the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_80080.jpg-bafa8-1612001906786 — Overall, Lesueur says he's optimistic that the zoo will get clearance to reopen in coming weeks. | Above: A wolf touches a glass window in it’s enclosure in the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_04273.jpg-157f3-1612001914592 — "Except if the COVID (situation) gets worse. That's another story," he said. "Now if we are closed for another two months or three months, I really don't know what is going to happen." Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_86900.jpg-b681a-1612001941499 — A view of the Reptile House in Attica Zoological Park in Spata. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_55166.jpg-cbfeb-1612001929363 — Angola lions look out from behind glass in their enclosure at the Attica Zoological Park in Spata. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Virus_Outbreak_Greece_Zoo_80782.jpg-d2c64-1612001937666 — An Arabian oryx stands in an enclosure at Attica Zoological Park, Spata. Image Credit: AP

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