After many establishments were forced to close their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses such as the San Diego Zoo are beginning to reopen. The world-famous zoo has entered the first phase of their “Roaring Back” initiative, designed to ease the zoo back into its normal opening schedule. The “Roaring Back” plan is effective for not only the San Diego Zoo, but also the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. This article will be taking a look at the changes that are happening at both the Zoo and the Safari Park.
Before entering the park
Masks are a mandatory requirement for entry into either of the two locations. Visitors must be wearing some form of facial protection to enter the zoo. Visitors who choose not to wear a mask are simply not allowed entry. This policy helps limit the bacteria spread from visitor to visitor, as well as from visitor to staff. The zoo also requires that staff members wear face coverings as well, even when handling animals.
Another new addition is a procedural check-in system for all visitors to the parks. Visitors must make sure they do not exhibit any of the symptoms for COVID-19. To ensure of this, staff at the check-in stations provide a detailed list of COVID symptoms for visitors to read. Visitors must verbally affirm that they don’t have the virus before staff can let them pass the check-in.
After confirmation, staff will provide the visitors a rubber bracelet to wear in the park, each group of visitors receiving a different color. The bracelets have “SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK #ROARINGBACK” embedded into them, a symbol of the zoo’s dedication to their plan. The bracelets help to remind visitors to keep away from visitors wearing different colored bands. The bracelet system also helps staff identify which visitors are part of a group.
Inside the park
There are also several changes inside the park to reduce the spread of COVID. Attractions that require close groupings of many visitors are temporarily unavailable to avoid creating hotspots for the virus. With this in mind, many exhibits that are in a closed environment cannot be accessed. Attractions like the bus tour are also unavailable until further notice.
The decision to limit attractions have also left limited mobility at the San Diego Zoo. Without the use of the bus, visitors can no longer receive a tour of the zoo to help plan their trip. Additionally, the polar bear exhibit is more difficult to reach without the Skyfari ski lift due to its location deep in the zoo.
The zoo has also went through and attached stickers on the ground and around exhibits. Stickers plastered on the ground mark six feet measurements to help visitors maintain social distancing. “High touch zones” have stickers on them to remind visitors to avoid touching the surface of exhibits.
Shops in the zoo remain open, although limited in their operations. Customers can order and purchase meals, but must dine outside. The store requires those who enter to walk in a specific direction to keep visitors from bumping into each other. The general gift shop is open under a similar rule, requiring to walk along a designated line to buy their gifts. While roof establishments are open, the pop-up food stalls remain closed.
The zoo has added new hand sanitizing stations across the park to help visitors stay clean during their trip. This is incredibly helpful to visitors who forget to bring their own disinfectant, reducing bacteria spread. The presence of these stations helps visitors feel safer while visiting the zoo.
Conclusion
Overall, the San Diego Zoo has taken many great measures to help them open up while helping everyone remain safe. Many of these measures are very carefully thought out to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Due to its limited opening, the zoo also welcomes donations to help maintain their exhibits. Phase 1 of the San Diego Zoo’s Roaring Back initiative is proving to be a roaring success.
