Videos of animals freely roaming here and there on zoos went viral not too long ago. However, it looks like they are getting a little lonely without our smiley and enthusiastic faces.
Due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic, zoos all over the world have been closed, with animals being left on their own except for their keepers. But without being exposed to the hundreds and thousands of visitors they encounter on a daily basis, zoo animals have started to actually ‘look’ for humans.
Dublin Zoo in Ireland attracts around 1.2 million visitors annually. According to Leo Oosterweghel, director of Dublin Zoo, the animals are ‘more surprised’ to see him now. He said that animals come up and look closely because they’re wondering what has happened to everyone else. This is not a surprise because the animals are very much used to visitors.
Paul Rose, lecturer in animal behavior at the University of Exeter, told BBC News that zoo animals depend on visitors and their engagements for ‘enrichment’ and that it’s advantageous to the animals’ well-being. When this is gone, the animals lack ‘enrichment’.
? Animal Update ?
The multi-generational herd of Asian elephants are enjoying the various enrichment elements of their habitat and the sun today! ?#dublinzoo #discoverdublin pic.twitter.com/BvNw6BicuG
— Dublin Zoo (@DublinZoo) April 24, 2020
This is the reason why many animals including rhinos and giraffes have been turning up for their public appearances at Orana Wildlife Park in New Zealand, though no one is there to watch them. Phoenix Zoo is also undergoing similar consequences with keepers spending more time with animals.
Dinah is missing interacting with her fans and is looking forward to when guests are able to return.
Meet Dina the Bali myna during today’s #DigitalSafari presented by @SRPconnect at 10 a.m. on Facebook live!
?: Keeper Tara#BriningTheZooToYou #ClosedButStillCaring pic.twitter.com/EslACw55fC
— phoenixzoo (@PhoenixZoo) April 27, 2020
The situation has become so bad in Tokyo’s Sumida Aquarium that its staff is requesting the general public to interact with its garden eels via video calls. For more details on visiting the eels, visit the aquarium’s website here.
Reading, creative writing, poetry writing, and language learning have been my passions since I was young. I have won many Japanese and Chinese language competitions, and many national-level creative writing, art & oratory competitions too. I am still schooling, and passed my O/Levels with distinction passes for English Literature, Japanese, and English. I have also completed my Certificate of Human Resource Management.
