Twycross Zoo has closed its door to visitors
Covid-19 Closure Update (As at Monday 23rd March 2020)
As the situation around COVID-19 progresses it is with a heavy heart that we have made the necessary decision to close our gates to visitors from the end of today, Monday 23rd March 2020, for the foreseeable future.
We have been closely monitoring the situation and taking many extra steps to minimise risks. We had hoped to remain open for as long as possible in order to provide a much-needed outdoor facility through which our visitors and members could get some escapism and fresh air to support their mental wellbeing. However, in the past few days it has become clear that for the safety of visitors, staff and our animals NOW is the time to close.
Please be assured our incredible animal team will be continuing to work on site, while adhering to strict social distancing and biosecurity measures, in order to ensure all our animal’s, receive the excellent standard of care they are used to.
We have been overwhelmed by the kind messages of support we’ve received from our members, visitors and other supporters and are confident they will all understand and support this decision. If you do have any questions, please scroll down the page for further details where we hope we have addressed most questions. Please bear with us during this difficult time, as our immediate focus moves to prioritising and securing our staff, animals and zoo’s future.
As a charity it is the support of our visitors and members that enables us to care for our animals, many of whom are endangered, and support vital conservation work and for this we want to take a moment to say a heartfelt ‘Thanks’ to you all.
We value each and every visitor to the zoo, and our zoo community is very precious to us. That’s why in the coming weeks we will try to keep you updated with news of our work and goings on at the zoo through our social media channels as best as we can. Here’s hoping it won’t be too long before we can welcome you back to Twycross Zoo so you can come and see them yourselves again.
Please take care of each other in these troubled time
The Executive Team and all the team at Twycross Zoo
Frequently Asked Questions
Is everything at Twycross Zoo closed?
Yes as of 5pm on the 23rd March Twycross Zoo is closed to all visitors. This includes members, day visitors or those visiting for encounters, conservation events or private events.
Our restaurants and soft play, which were all closed last week, remain closed too. Please do not travel to the zoo as we will only be admitting essential staff onto the site.
Are staff still working at Twycross Zoo and what are you doing to minimise their risk?
At this critical time it is vitally important that we maintain the same levels of care our animals are used to. So ‘yes’ many of our staff are still working at the zoo. Our expert teams are observing strict social distancing while onsite and are used to complying to their usual biosecurity measures to minimise risk to themselves and others.
How will the animals be affected by the closure?
It is our hope that we can provide continuity of care for the animals as we normally would with both expert keeper and vets teams on hand daily. While you won’t be able to visit to see how they are all getting on we will be sure to keep you up to date on how they are doing via our social media channels.
How long will Twycross Zoo remain closed?
At this stage we really don’t know, but by taking these measures now, we hope we can play our part in slowing the spread of COVID-19 and therefore get back to some degree of normality soon. We will update our social media pages and website as soon as we have any details on reopening.
I have tickets booked for a future date what will happen to these?
We don’t want anyone to miss out and all tickets already booked will be honoured for use on a future visit and valid for 6 months from when we reopen.
What happens to my membership now you are closed?
Your membership will just be paused and you will still get the full 12 months, any period for which we are closed will be added onto the end of the membership.
I had tickets booked for an encounter or animal experience what will happen to this?
Since we are now closed. Please note your encounter or animal experience will be honoured and once we have a date for reopening our team will be in touch to rearrange a mutually suitable date
I had tickets booked for a Safari Sleepover what will happen to this?
Since we are now closed. Please note your Safari Sleepover will be honoured and once we have a date for reopening our team will be in touch to rearrange a suitable date.
I have a private event booked at Twycross Zoo what happens to this?
Unfortunately private events will also be affected by this closure. We will be in touch to discuss options available for your event.
What happens to my animal adoption while you are closed?
Your support through an animal adoption is more important that ever now, and thanks so much for supporting Twycross Zoo in this way. Please be assured the animal you have adopted will continue to be cared for to our normal standards, and we hope to be able to keep you up to date as to the progress of our animals through social media and email. The adoption ticket received will be extended for the period of our closure e.g. if the dated period is 23rd March 2020 – 23rd March 2021 and we remain closed for one month, an extra month would be added to the dated ticket making it valid until 23rd April 2021.
How can I stay in touch with Twycross Zoo?
Our community is precious to us and we think more than ever we need to come together so please do let’s stay in close contact. You can join our social communities on Facebook and Instagram where you can see regular updates on all the goings on around the zoo.
What can I do to support the zoo at this crucial time?
Twycross Zoo is a charity whose main source of income comes from visitors and members, so, like many, this crisis is going to have a significant impact upon us. Obviously we hope once this is all over you will return to us and enjoy a much needed day out, but in the meantime you can support us directly by making a donation at https://twycrosszoo.org/donate/
I have a different question, what’s the best way to contact you?
Please try and avoid ringing us and emailing us right now, as I am sure you can appreciate we are going to be rather busy in the coming weeks trying to secure the future of our staff, animals and zoo. We ask politely that you bear with us, keep updated on our social media, we will update this as the situation changes.
