Without income, 2,000 mouths to feed: blockade destroys Greek zoo

ATHENS, Greece (AP) – It’s time for food at the only zoo in Greece, and a capuchin monkey grabs as many mandarins as it can – even stuffing one into its long, flexible tail. It may be wise to stock up.

After being closed for almost three months due to COVID-19, the zoo on the outskirts of Athens could be on the brink of extinction: without paying visitors or – unlike other European zoos – enough government aid to cover its very specific needs, the Attica Zoological Park faces huge bills to keep 2,000 animals well fed and healthy.

“As things stand … we can still go on for at least a month,” said the zoo’s founder and CEO, Jean Jacques Lesueur. “After that, we don’t know.”

Unlike some companies forced to temporarily close due to virus control restrictions, the zoo continues to have considerable operating expenses. Between food, salaries, utilities, medical care and other expenses, the cost of caring for animals currently exceeds 200,000 euros (US $ 243,000) per month.

“This is the difference between us and the other companies: when they close, they close. We closed, but we didn’t, ”Lesueur told the Associated Press.

Founded in 2000 and located in the city of Spata, the zoo covers 20 hectares (50 acres) and houses 290 species, from elephants to prairie dogs. It is involved in education, conservation and reproduction, and belongs to the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which has about 400 members.

Having to close again on November 7, after Greece’s two-month spring blockade came at a bad time for the Attica Zoo. The zoo usually runs all year round, but does a lot of its business during colder weather “because in Greece people go to beaches, to islands, they don’t visit zoos” in the summer, said Lesueur, born in France.

Visitors account for more than 99% of their revenue, with tickets, food and drinks and sales at gift shops. Therefore, each month’s revenue counts, and the December loss, usually due to the Christmas holidays, was particularly heavy.

So far, suppliers have shown understanding and are accepting credit. Two-thirds of the zoo’s employees are on state leave, and an expected portion of state aid will take care of this month’s payment for the rest, said the CEO.

The zoo also sold 5,000 advance tickets at reduced prices for when the blockade ended, and Lesueur says it helped pay for December wages.

The blockade also affects zoo residents, who are used to being with a crowd of humans. For almost three months, they only saw their keepers. Then the situation changed when an AP journalist visited her last week: several curious animals and birds approached to get a good look.

“Animals miss visitors, because that is part of their lives,” said Lesueur. “All the animals you see (here) are born in other zoos. So, they are used to people. “

Greece has reported about 150,000 COVID-19 confirmed infections so far and about 5,800 deaths in the pandemic. After reaching a peak above 3,300 in November, the number of new daily cases is staying in the triple digits.

However, the Greater Athens region remains the hardest hit area in the country and officials said on Friday they would reinstate tougher blocking restrictions there. after a decline in infection rates in January was reversed this week.

Overall, Lesueur says he is optimistic that the zoo will be allowed to reopen in the coming weeks.

“Unless the COVID (situation) gets worse. That is another story, ”he said. “Now, if we stay closed for another two or three months, I really don’t know what’s going to happen.”

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