Welsh Mountain Zoo still unable to open despite good news for English zoos

The Welsh Mountain Zoo has said it is still unable to open despite a positive announcement for English zoos emerging in the last 24 hours.

Last night, it was revealed that UK Prime Minister Boris was set to announce that safari parks and zoos over the border can reopen from next week.

However, staff at the Colwyn Bay zoo have provided an updated confirming that the decision does not apply to the devolved nations.

They warned it was facing “extreme financial damage” and has asked for people to lobby the Welsh Government to allow it to reopen.

In a statement, representatives for the zoo said: “Last night you may have heard the news that Boris Johnson announced that Zoos and Safari Parks in England could reopen from 15 June. This is tremendous news and we are thrilled for our friends in England.

“However, please note that this ruling does not apply to us. We still find ourselves unable to reopen.

“Wales is a devolved nation and the restrictions set in place by the First Minister, Mark Drakeford, on 29 May still stand.

“People in Wales can only travel within 5 miles of their home and visiting an attraction such as ourselves is not permitted in that travel.

“For now, we may have to wait for the First Minister’s next review of lockdown measures on 19 June.

“In the meantime, please could we ask that you continue to share our message far and wide.

“We do have the ability to reopen with appropriate social distancing measures, but we need the Welsh Government to ease their restrictions in order to allow us to do this.

“We thank you all, our friends, for your support so far. When we are allowed to reopen, there is no getting away from the fact that we will have suffered extreme financial damage since closing on 22 March and the road to recovery will be long and uncertain.

“The help you are providing us with is not going unnoticed – we are truly humbled by what each and every one of you have done, and are continuing to do, in support of the National Zoo of Wales.”

You can donate towards helping the zoo to keep going by clicking here.