THE Welsh Mountain Zoo has revealed it will reopen its gates to visitors on Monday, July 13.

The team has been busy putting social distancing measures in place across the site over recent weeks ahead of the hugely anticipated reopening.

Jen Jesse, director of operations and administration at the Colwyn Bay attraction, said: “This is of course the news that we’ve been waiting for and we’re incredibly excited to be able to open our gates.

“We can’t wait to see our friends and supporters again. We know they will all be looking forward to visiting, but we’d like to kindly ask for their understanding in the meantime whilst we prepare more information regarding our reopening over the coming weeks.”

The zoo is awaiting further guidance for the re-opening of attractions to be issued. As soon as this is available, further updates will be shared.

In the meantime, some of the changes being implemented include:

  • The zoo will be requesting pre-booking of tickets online so they can safely monitor/limit the number of visitors at the site each day and also ensure a smooth and efficient admission. All visitors, members and children under the age of three will require tickets.
  • Indoor areas will be closed and services and animal demonstrations temporarily suspended in line with the latest government guidelines.
  • For those whose annual memberships expired whilst the zoo is closed, you will have the length of time remaining from the date of closure extended on to your membership once the zoo re-opens. For those whom have taken membership out during the zoo's closure, your membership will be processed and activated once the zoo re-opens.
  • Pre-booked admission tickets that have expired whilst the zoo has been closed will remain valid until the end of the year.
  • Due to continued social distancing requirements, the zoo will not be offering animal experiences when it reopens. Any pre-booked experiences will be rescheduled. The team will be in touch with those who had booked an experience to discuss re-booking dates in the future.

Jen added: “As we are sure you will appreciate, this is an extremely busy time for us in which we are operating with limited staffing levels. Whilst we prepare procedures, please could we kindly ask that messages, emails and calls are kept to a minimum. We’ll be sharing updated plans with you very soon.

“There is no getting away from the fact that we have suffered extreme financial damage since closing and the road to recovery will be long and uncertain.

“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you, our friends and supporters, from the bottom of our hearts for the great lengths you have gone to over the past three months to support the zoo charity.

"We are truly humbled by what each and every one of you have done, and we hope will continue to do, in support of the National Zoo of Wales.”

Supporters can continue to help the zoo by:

  • Adopting an animal
  • Becoming a member
  • Purchasing an animal on their Amazon wish list

Or donate via www.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/welshmountainzoo