Locked down and lonely, London Zoo faces fight to survive
>> Reuters
Published: 15 Feb 2021 01:46 PM BdST Updated: 15 Feb 2021 01:46 PM BdST
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Black capped squirrel monkeys are fed treats from Valentines Day themed bags during a photo-call at ZSL London Zoo in London, Britain, Feb 10, 2021. REUTERS
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Apprentice zookeeper Joe Bostock-Jones prepares to feed animals at ZSL London Zoo, as zookeepers continue to tend to thousands of animals whilst the zoo remains closed to the public, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, Feb 10, 2021. REUTERS
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A goat stands in its enclosure at ZSL London Zoo, as zookeepers continue to tend to thousands of animals whilst the zoo remains closed to the public, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, Feb 10, 2021. REUTERS
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Asim, a male Sumatran tiger is seen at feeding time in the tiger territory enclosure at ZSL London Zoo, as zookeepers continue to tend to thousands of animals whilst the zoo remains closed to the public, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, Feb 10, 2021. REUTERS
London Zoo should be teeming with children released from school by half-term holidays.
But instead, the monkeys' pranks are unobserved, King Cobra is coiled friendless in the reptile house and the future of the world's oldest scientific zoo is in peril.
As the menagerie in Regent's Park, central London, nurses a multi-million-pound hole in its budget and lockdown keeps visitors away, even during school holidays, the keepers are sad and anxious.

Apprentice zookeeper Joe Bostock-Jones prepares to feed animals at ZSL London Zoo, as zookeepers continue to tend to thousands of animals whilst the zoo remains closed to the public, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, Feb 10, 2021. REUTERS
"We are losing so much money," said Sanders. "I'm concerned the zoo might not survive."
Opened in 1828 by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), London Zoo was visited by Charles Darwin while he was writing his "Origin of Species" and Queen Elizabeth II is its patron.

A goat stands in its enclosure at ZSL London Zoo, as zookeepers continue to tend to thousands of animals whilst the zoo remains closed to the public, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, Feb 10, 2021. REUTERS
Feeding them costs around 1 million pounds ($1.4 million) a month and the latest lockdown will blow a 1.8 million pound hole in its budget on top of the 15 million pound loss last year.
"It just remains so sad that we are closed," ZSL London Zoo’s Chief Operating Officer Kathryn England said. "We can't furlough animals and you can't furlough all of the staff who look after the animals."

Asim, a male Sumatran tiger is seen at feeding time in the tiger territory enclosure at ZSL London Zoo, as zookeepers continue to tend to thousands of animals whilst the zoo remains closed to the public, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in London, Britain, Feb 10, 2021. REUTERS
"More importantly, we are here to inspire people about wildlife and as long as we are closed, we have to find very ingenious ways of doing that," she said. "But nothing really beats having people in the zoo and having a great day out."
"It's hard - it's really hard."
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