Home / Environment / Heatwave Hits Zoos: Visitor Numbers Plummet
Heatwave Hits Zoos: Visitor Numbers Plummet
10 Aug
Summary
- Zoo visitor numbers saw a 12% drop in June due to extreme heat.
- Animal ponds faced algal blooms, creating significant costs for a park.
- A zoo resolved a water shortage by repositioning a pump after a borehole ran dry.
Wildlife attractions are experiencing a noticeable decline in visitor numbers amidst the current heatwaves. Dartmoor Zoo reported approximately a 12% reduction in visitors during June, a challenging month financially as the public opted for outdoor leisure activities away from attractions.
The ongoing drought has presented numerous challenges for zoos. Dartmoor Zoo faced a water shortage, though it was eventually resolved. The park had been operating at half capacity because one of its two boreholes ran dry, causing the pump to sit in air.
Workers managed to resolve the water issue by lowering the pump to reach the ground's water level. Paradise Park in Cornwall noted that while its flamingos seemed to tolerate the heat, algal blooms in animal ponds became a significant and costly problem.
