The Hattiesburg Zoo is excited to announce its reopening at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5. The Zoo has received numerous calls and messages from families looking for a safe, outdoor space to enjoy the beautiful weather and is eager to welcome the public back.
Over the past few weeks, the Zoo has been collecting information and guidelines from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the CDC, as well as fellow zoos, such as Zoo Atlanta, Central Florida Zoo, St. Louis Zoo, Memphis Zoo, Baton Rouge Zoo, and other reopened institutions to establish proper operating procedures during this unique period. These ‘best practices’ will allow for a safe and enjoyable reunion for our animals, staff and guests.
“We have been working with our national industry to establish a reopening plan, so that our guests have a safe and enjoyable visit with their families,” said Rick Taylor, executive director of the Hattiesburg Convention Commission. “The outpouring of care and support during our closure has been amazing and we have been eagerly waiting to present a safe environment in which we can enjoy everyone’s smiling faces again!”
Here are some of the temporary operating guidelines and information to ensure a safe Zoo visit:
● We are limiting the number of guests in the Zoo to 25 percen of capacity during Phase 1.
● We are staggering entry times so you can plan to enter the Zoo quickly and conveniently.
● Tickets should be purchased in advance online. (Details to follow on social media)
● Tickets for Zoo entry may be scanned from your phone or printed from home for scanning at entry.
● Ticket reservations will also apply to annual pass holders. Your annual pass, photo ID, and timed tickets will be checked upon entry to the zoo.
● Reserve your tickets here: www.HattiesburgZoo.com. *Once a ticket has been purchased, no refunds or exchanges will be issued. No exceptions.*
● We request that our guests practice social distancing and courtesy to other guests within the Zoo.
● We request that you follow any state or local orders regarding facial coverings.
● We are adding more sanitizing procedures of high-touch areas of the Zoo.
● We have increased the number of sanitization stations throughout the Zoo.
● Distancing markers have been placed at all normal line-up areas, such as entry, food service, attractions, and popular animal exhibits.
● We will operate the Zoo in a one-way direction during this phase of our reopening.
● We have closed all indoor facilities, including the Asbury Discovery Center and the Education Building. ● We have restricted close guest-to-guest contact areas (the ‘nooks and crannies’) of the Zoo, such as the South American Exhibit Pier and Tiger Tower.
● Keeper chats and Animal Encounters have been temporarily postponed.
● The Safari Grill and the Snack Station near our Australia exhibit will be open with a limited menu, and properly adjusted outdoor seating.
● Protocols will be adjusted as appropriate, in order to keep our animals, staff, and guests safe.
“This first week may be challenging as we enter uncharted waters together. We all may occasionally get frustrated with these new ways to enjoy the Zoo. But, let’s agree to work together, because being together (albeit, distanced) is better than apart” said Taylor. “Rascal (the obnoxious Cockatoo), Tina (the prima donna Crowned Crane), Craig (the staid Galapagos Tortoise), Kevin (the rotund Kune Kune pig), Maya (the stealthy black Jaguar) and all of the rambunctious Nigerian Dwarf Goats are wondering where you all have been (Leggs, the Tarantula, has not indicated a preference.).”
Though the Zoo has been closed to the public since March 16, 2020, essential staff has been on-site every day providing quality care for the animals. During this time, the Zoo has offered Zoom meeting attendance by various animals, as well as social media videos and information to keep people informed and engaged. A Wisconsin artist is making the Hattiesburg Zoo’s reopening day really “rock”!
Jill Wettstein lives in the quaint village of Sister Bay, in picturesque Door County, Wisconsin. Jill humbly refers to herself as an “untrained artist” painting from the heart in an effort to pay forward small acts of kindness. She has followed the Hattiesburg Zoo on social media and gathered that it would soon be reopening. She reached out and offered to paint rocks featuring favorite Zoo animals for guests to find on reopening day. While she uses many different mediums to express herself through art, her first real passion was cookie decorating. Jill and her husband, John, recently retired and sold their very popular Sister Bay cookie shop, Jill FCS (Funky Cookie Studio). Since retiring, she has been painting little works of art on stones from the shores of Lake Michigan, then hiding them in locations throughout Sister Bay for locals and visitors alike! The Zoo is encouraging local residents, artists, or rock enthusiasts to take a challenge from Jill and hide rocks they’ve created on their own throughout the zoo.
Everyone interested should participate in either finding a painted rock, leaving a painted rock, and be sure to post about any discovered rocks on social media, hashtagging: #hburgzoorocks, #jillfcsrocks, and #kindnessrocks. If you would like to send painted rocks to be hidden, send a private message so that the Hattiesburg Zoo can “rock” all summer long! Stay tuned to Facebook and Instagram for updates and details as they become available. Also, please be sure to visit www.hattiesburgzoo.com for more information.