The Woodland Park Zoo has been temporarily closed since March 12th, being one of the first accredited zoos in the country to close to protect visitors and staff from the transmission of COVID-19. Unfortunately, this attention to safety has cost the non-profit $6 million in loss of revenue, so far, and will result in workforce reductions and pay cuts for senior staff.
Like so many businesses and other non-profits, our Zoo has had to announce temporary furloughs, permanent layoffs and temporary pay cuts, effective July 6th. Additionally, the Zoo will institute a 10% pay cut for non-operations critical employees who make more than $100,000 annually, following pay cuts already made in May.
Fortunately, our community’s contributions to the Zoo’s emergency Relief Fund has generated more than $830,000, by almost 3,000 donors. This will help assure uncompromised care of the Zoo’s nearly 1,000 animals in residence. The Zoo has prioritized investing in animal care and the maintenance of critical physical and business infrastructure.
“The Zoo never really closes,” said Alejandro Grajal, PhD, the President and CEO of Woodland Park, “We will always have animals to care for, endangered wildlife to save and people to inspire.”
One way the Zoo never closes came on May 25th with the birth of Red Panda twins to Hazel and Yukiko. Recently, Woodland Park has been able to welcome several wonderful additions to the Zoo family, with penguin chicks, pudu fawn, mountain goat kids and a baby gorilla. The Red Panda twins are the second born at the Zoo in the last three decades.
“The first month after birth is where we need to monitor the cubs closely,” explained Zoo animal curator Mark Myers. “Red pandas are extremely small, helpless and blind when they are born, relying entirely on their mother for care.” Mother Hazel gave birth in an indoor, climate-controlled den where she is caring for her cubs. An endangered species, fewer than 10,000 Red Pandas remain in their native habitat.
Open or closed, the Zoo’s dedicated animal care and veterinary teams work around the clock to provide exemplary care to the Zoo’s year ‘round inhabitants. Right now there is an urgent need for more resources to continue providing extraordinary care. Please consider contributing, and know that contributions big and small will help creatures of all sizes. Click here to visit the Relief Fund webpage.