CLICK HERE if you are having trouble viewing these photos on a mobile device
After being shuttered for four months, the Oakland Zoo is once again welcoming guests, although crowd size is reduced, some exhibits remain closed and all admission tickets require advance purchase and a reserved time slot.
The fans of the 98-year-old zoo, however, appeared happy to comply with the new rules, as they made their way inside for the first time Wednesday, glad to be able to stroll the grounds, marvel at the animals and take flight in aerial gondolas that provide a bird’s eye view.
The zoo had been on the verge of closing when the state granted permission for it to reopen as an outdoor museum. The zoo, home to more than 750 animals of all shapes and sizes, relies heavily on admissions to cover the cost of feeding all those hungry mouths and for their care — about $18 million a year. When the pandemic forced its closure, the zoo had to rely on its emergency funds, which quickly were being depleted.
Under the guidelines of reopening, admissions are set at about a third of what they normally would be, which means financially, the zoo remains in a bind. It has stepped up its fundraising efforts, including raising $506,850 at a recent “LollapaZOOla,” with more in the works.
In addition to advance reservations, the zoo requires all visitors older than 3 years old to wear masks and keep their distance from other guests. Groups are limited to family or people living in the same household.
Indoor exhibits remain closed, but there’s plenty to see in the open, including several new animals that weren’t there when the zoo closed in March. Kijiji the giraffe, a 2-year-old transplant from another zoo, a newborn Hamadryas baboon named Aluna, and seven American buffalo calves are all new to the zoo.
