Halls Gap Zoo: What happens behind closed doors in a lockdown
The gates may be shut to the public at the Halls Gap zoo but there is still plenty of action going on behind closed doors. Here’s how the animals are handling isolation.
WHILE the doors are closed at the Halls Gap Zoo, there is no monkeying around for the 600-plus furry and scaly residents.
It’s business as usual for the keepers who are busy feeding, cleaning and giving cuddles to the more needy animals, who are dealing with isolation about as well as the humans.
“They miss the interaction. They’re used to seeing people and getting pats so the keepers have to spend a bit more time with the encounter animals,” manager Mark Treweek said.
“Especially the rhino who loves a pat.”
Mr Treweek and his wife Lisa are looking forward to reopening to the public when restrictions are eased, with the hope they will get as much support as they did following the last lockdown.
“The winter school holidays were the best they’ve ever been. We couldn’t believe how much people got out and about,” Mr Treweek said.
Meanwhile, the shutdown has allowed some time for a focus on maintenance, including the installation of a new wombat enclosure, among other exciting additions.
“There will be something new for when people do come back, which is exciting and something to look forward to,” Mr Treweek said.
The zoo is also continuing its social media livestreams which were introduced last lockdown, changing up day-to-day viewing from exotic animals like the rhino to native animals with a focus on education for kids learning from home.
The couple are confident things will bounce back quickly when people can visit again, with a few changes in place.
“We’ve got 2.5km of track and plenty of room to social distance and you’re out in the open so guests will be safe,” he said.
“The whole point of our zoo is walk amongst the deer and the wallabies and hand feed them all so we’ll have a good supply of hand sanitiser around.”
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