The coronavirus has rocked the world, continent to continent. Thousands have lost jobs as a result, while governments have fumbled to mitigate the fallout.

But what happens now? With society scrambling to continue life in the epoch of “social distancing” and “self-isolation,” what comes of society’s greatest pillars? Will sports leagues cease to be for months? More importantly, what will happen to zoos and aquariums? Will the animals be taken care of?

Amid this sea of questions comes some answers from Paradise Park, a UK-based wildlife sanctuary.

On March 19th, Paradise Park announced a temporary closure that started on March 21st. Their goal is to ensure the safety of their wildlife and obviously slow the spread of the ongoing coronavirus in public places.

Some zookeepers have gone the extra mile, for the good of the realm. Staff members Emily, Izzy, Layla, and Sarah-Jane have decided to move into the park and self-isolate for the foreseeable future. Although they will be supported by rotating staff shifts, they want to ensure that the animals are properly provided for during the next 12 weeks, as well as preventing spread among vulnerable members of their own families.

According to Bored Panda, Alison Hales, the director of Paradise Park says, “All our keepers are really dedicated to the animals, but some also have vulnerable family members at home. When they heard the advice about self-isolating to combat the coronavirus, they had to make a decision about whether to stay away from work and isolate with their families. But then they suggested that they could come and stay in the house at Paradise Park to be there for the birds every day without risking the health of their families.”

The sanctuary is home to a wealth of different species, including over 1,200 birds, squirrels, penguins, and red pandas. The park has ensured that they will be properly fed and taken care of during these trying times.

The staff is also making sure to continue to train various bird species, including eagles, hawks, and others, for the zoo’s free-flying summer shows.

Although the physical doors are technically closed to visitors, the park remains virtually available to the public – in the form of live video sessions and beautiful social media photographs.

The zoo has even started a GoFundMe campaign, raising around $1,500 per week. Feel free to donate here.

Although the animals will be taken care of, funds will be the biggest challenge facing the park over the next few months. Alison goes on to state, “All our income comes from visitors and we have only been closed on Christmas Day and a few days due to snow in our 46 years. Winter is our quietest time of year, so we really look forward to the Easter holidays, we put on extra events and get lots of visitors. We have been very self-sufficient over all these years, many people are regular visitors and we have achieved a lot of really good conservation work for endangered species. Our bank is being helpful and has already extended our overdraft but this is the first time we have ever done a fund-raiser.”

Collectively, the world is reeling, figuring out on the fly the best possible means of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Most businesses have taken a hit. It’s imperative that people do the best they can to maintain their health, as well as the health of their loved ones. The four volunteer zookeepers of Paradise Park have set a beautiful example of some of the productive actions that can be taken in humanity’s stand against the coronavirus.

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Source: Bored Panda, Paradise Park