SINCE the COVID -19 lockdown, the Guyana Zoological Park has remained closed, but this has not stopped the staff members of the zoo from working every day to ensure that the animals are taken care of, with the Protected Areas Commission / National Parks Commission (PAC/NPC) putting specific measures in place to ensure that the animals and staff remain safe and healthy during this global pandemic.

Guyana Zoological Park Manager, Anthony Ramsahoi, expressed appreciation for the sacrifices being made by the Zoo’s members of staff saying, “Our Zoo Keepers and other staff here are the real super heroes; they come every single day, not for the money, but for the love of the animals”.

Ramsahoi further stated that the animals have always gotten proper care in terms of general animal husbandry practices and constant sanitizing – he says this is nothing new for the Zoo as he revealed that some Zoo Keepers were using safety respirators and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in keeping with the nature of their work, even before the outbreak. He says what is new however, is the practice of social and physical distancing among the staff. Stronger bleach solutions are used to sanitize rails and cages, and Zoo Keepers are required to constantly sanitise themselves and ensure that their uniforms are not taken away but washed and stored at the zoo.

According to a release from the PAC, it has been observed that, due to the lack of large crowds and noise, some animals are now more visible even in cages. Although this has been a welcomed change for these protected creatures, there is still hope that normalcy will return in order for patrons, especially students, to benefit from the zoo.
Funds for the proper feeding, sanitation and protection of these animals are provided through continued subventions from the Government. In addition members of the public have also been donating fruits which are thoroughly cleaned before being fed to the animals.