The Denver Zoo just announced they’d be closing for an indefinite amount of time due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. It’s a place near and dear to my heart, and it’s a place where people can’t shelter in place or stay out of work for two weeks. Just like every zoo is.
Unfortunately, while people have to continue working there, they’re no longer able to welcome in guests, members, or volunteers. There are still animals to feed, staff to manage, and bills to pay. And they’re doing that with no real incoming revenue.
I work in a critical logistics industry. My job is relatively safe and my income is actually likely to increase if any of my coworkers fall ill. So a bit of that income has been donated to the Denver Zoo. A bit has been donated to the Pueblo Zoo. And next paycheck, a bit of it’s going to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and the Riverside Discovery Center in Scottsbluff.
There’s a lot of fuss going around on social media about supporting local businesses. Most zoos aren’t businesses, they’re nonprofits that exist to educate, engage, and conserve. Still, if you can spare anything, give them what you can. My local zoos donation links are all listed below. You should be able to find the page for your zoo pretty easily. Even if it’s 5 or 10 bucks, that’s not nothing, and it *will* make a difference.
Until these zoos reopen, I’ll be sharing old pics instead of new ones. And instead of volunteering, I’ll be at home cuddling with my little Macadoodle during my off hours. Take care of yourselves, and support your zoos.
Denver Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Pueblo Zoo
Riverside Discovery Center Scottsbluff
The Zootographer 