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Zookeeker Brendan Walsh. Dublin Zoo

'We will not let that happen': Taoiseach says government will intervene to ensure Dublin Zoo remains open

Dublin Zoo launched the ‘Save Dublin Zoo’ fundraising campaign today.

LAST UPDATE | 18 Nov 2020

TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said the government will be intervening to ensure the Dublin Zoo stays open. 

The attraction’s director warned today that there is a real risk that Dublin Zoo may close for good due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions,

Dr Christoph Schwitzer said he expects the zoo’s emergency cash reserves to last until next spring, “and not beyond right now”. 

The likely continuation of restrictions on visitor numbers into next year may see the zoo close its doors as it cannot afford to stay open under current operating conditions. 

In the Dáil today, Sinn Féin Mary Lou McDonald said the closure of the zoo would be devastating the to employment, the local economy and tourism.

The Taoiseach said the government does not want Dublin Zoo to close its doors, and will do everything it can to ensure it does not close.

Micheál Martin said it has been some time since capital funding was given to Dublin Zoo, indicating that additional funding would be forthcoming to the attraction.

He said the government has to intervene here to ensure the zoo is here for “generations to come and I intend to act on that”.

Schwitzer told Morning Ireland today that animal care alone costs €500,000 each month, with the zoo estimating losses of €8.2m in potential revenue so far this year.  

He said cost-saving measures have been taken but there are limitations to what they can do.

“You can’t furlough an elephant, you can’t switch off a zoo at night when you go home. Our animals need and deserve 24/7 care and we provide the highest standards of animal care and welfare possible,” he said.  

“Animal care alone costs us half a million a month, and these are very high fixed costs, and with no income from visitation, of course, we have difficulty meeting them.”

The zoo does not receive statutory funding from government but Schwitzer says he is currently engaged in “constructive” talks with local TDs who are all very supportive across parties but in the meantime, “I can’t stand idle as the director of Dublin Zoo, I have to do something”.

“We have relied on our emergency cash reserves to remain open when allowed, but even then, visitor number restrictions due to social distancing have made it near impossible to generate enough revenue to just break even. Without financial support, we are facing an uncertain future and may have to close,” Schwitzer said. 

“At this time of year, we are usually in the middle of Wild Lights and making preparations for the busy Christmas period, but instead we find ourselves fighting for our future and calling on the people of Ireland to answer our call and donate if possible.”

Minister of State for for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan tweeted that he is hopeful that his department will be able to offer short term financial support to help tide over Dublin Zoo and Fota Island, stating that he raised the matter with the Taoiseach and the Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath.

“The outflow of public goodwill in terms of donations is testament to the high regard that these places have in our public consciousness. The loss of Dublin or Fota is unthinkable,” he said.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie this morning, zookeeper Brendan Walsh said that while some staff in retail and administration were let go, the zoo “never compromised on the care of the animals”, despite the financial hardship over the last number of months.

“We can’t reduce the money we spend on the animals. There hasn’t been a single moment we’ve economised there and we can’t, our costs can’t change,” he said. “We’re lucky to be able to come to work and look after them but we need people’s help now.”

The zoo did manage to reopen for June, July and August but Walsh said this was at half capacity and there were costs associated with operating during a pandemic, such as PPE, additional administration, the implementation of one-way routes with signage and hand sanitiser. 

“The income was massively reduced compared to that time last year,” he said.

Walsh said the closure of the zoo is a real possibility if the financial situation does not dramatically change.

“It came through two world wars and numerous recessions and it’s always been difficult. The zoo is not what it was years ago, it’s very different, very modern and now we’re not just a visitor attraction we’re a conservation body.”

He said he thinks some of the animals are missing their human visitors.

“The orangutans and other primates, I think they enjoy the interactions with visitors. In lockdown they moved from their regular location on the island to get closer to the staff,” he said.

“The wolves have also been coming closer to the fence, which was a big surprise because wolves are generally very shy. When visitors came back in after the lockdown they were coming closer than anticipated.”

In a bid to counter the financial losses, Dublin Zoo launched the ‘Save Dublin Zoo’ fundraising campaign today, appealing to the Irish public for help. 

More information on fundraising can be found here.

With reporting by Christina Finn

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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Mar 10th 2021, 10:59 AM

    There is no possibility of Irish unity while sinn fein and the DUP are the main voices in northern politics . Two bitter, sectarian sides of the same coin, they need each other, feed off each other. But while either or both of them are on the pitch, nobody can win the game.

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    Mute postmanbill
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    Mar 10th 2021, 11:04 AM

    @John Mulligan: Well said John, could not agree with you more.

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    Mute Padraig O'Shea
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    Mar 15th 2021, 5:48 PM

    @John Mulligan: rubbished

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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:40 PM

    @John Mulligan: Nonsense

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    Mute Alan Wright
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    Mar 10th 2021, 11:00 AM

    Here’s a simple “FactFind” for the Journal. Who placed the ad’s in US papers for a United Ireland? After that fact is checked, please amend your click bait headline in the other article.

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    Mute Diarmuid Hunt
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:09 PM

    @Alan Wright: They stated “Friend of Sinn Féin”, have you found different?

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Mar 15th 2021, 4:54 PM

    A border poll is pointless as long as the large number of unionists who identify as British in the north are ignored or conveniently not part of such a process. They won’t go quietly and will not shy from fighting for what they hold close to their hearts. Like most Republicans I want a United Ireland….. but not at any cost

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Mar 15th 2021, 5:38 PM

    @Marc Power: so once again you democracy within this island is to be suspended because of actual or perceived threats of Unionist/ loyalist violence. That was how the dysfunctional state was created in first place.

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Mar 15th 2021, 5:52 PM

    @Marc Power: no one is advocating excluding or ignoring unionism, you’re confusing their unwillingness to engage in any form of discussion as them being ignored. But the Unionist veto is gone forever.

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:36 PM

    @M Bowe: I never said that so please stop stating nonsense and read my post again

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:46 PM

    @Marc Power: a border poll is pointless if
    1/ unionism is ignored
    2/ they won’t go quietly and will fight
    3/ you want unification but not at any price, ie the costs of above.
    You are precisely saying that a democratic poll is pointless because of those factors.

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    Mute Richard Russell
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:08 PM

    I will vote no. It will cost us at least €10 billion which of course will but an end to Limerick to Cork motorway plus other projects. We would also have to put up with the bigotry of DUP and Sinn Fein. The only people who vote yes will be the shiners and some FF’ s

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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:18 PM

    @Richard Russell: “The only people who vote yes will be the shiners and FF’s”

    Do you honestly think that’s true?? Really?

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    Mute Justin Gillespie
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:23 PM

    @O Swetenham: How people will vote will depend on the proposition put in front of them.
    I have yet to see any proposal telling me what a united Ireland will actually look like.

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    Mute O Swetenham
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:27 PM

    @Justin Gillespie: absolutely true. Couldn’t agree more, but I think suggesting that “only shinners and some ff’s” would vote for a United Ireland is a strange assumption.

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    Mute shake n’ break
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    Mar 16th 2021, 12:53 AM

    @Richard Russell: an ignorant comment with a nonsense figure thrown in! You haven’t even bothered researching what the northern irish economy has to offer. We may have a chance to make our country bigger and better but you’d rather spend it on a flipping road from cork to limerick.

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    Mute Shawn O'Ceallaghan
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    Mar 15th 2021, 4:49 PM

    Answer: NI decided they want a border poll. If they vote yes. ROI decide if we want them.

    Remainder of U.K. and ROI should not interfere till NI figure out what the want.

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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Mar 15th 2021, 5:31 PM

    @Shawn O’Ceallaghan: Do they honestly think this is going to happen with a border poll ,get real we will end up back in the Troubles it will cause a lot of problems,

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    Mute Gerard
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:16 PM

    It can’t be “Eff the unionists, because they lost”. That’s not how you treat somebody just because you disagree with their opinion. You’d have to do things like provide for schools where Irish is indeed an optional subject. And that’d just be the tip of the iceberg.

    Reunification is supposedly the only goal of nationalism, so if you can achieve that, any other olive branches you can offer to unionists should be on the table.

    The only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winner. If nationalists win, people need to be prepared to be gracious winners. That’s all.

    19
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    Mute John Hetherton
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:41 PM

    @Gerard: well Gerard that is indeed an interesting position to take. The majority of the population of Ireland wanted independence in 1919/1920, but hey the brits and the unionists didn’t agree hence we are where we are today. Sauce for the goose then, but not acceptable now according to your stance

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    Mute John Hetherton
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:41 PM

    @Gerard: well Gerard that is indeed an interesting position to take. The majority of the population of Ireland wanted independence in 1919/1920, but hey the brits and the unionists didn’t agree hence we are where we are today. Sauce for the goose then, but not acceptable now according to your stance

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    Mute jp tobin
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:46 PM

    2250 would be a good date

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    Mute Paul Hussey
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:38 PM

    The only people who would have a vote are the people of northern Ireland. 90 % of the unionist population would vote no about 30% of the Catholic population would vote no. Can’t see it going thru. The people in the south can’t vote. As the population of GB can’t vote.

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    Mute LiamMac2018
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    Mar 16th 2021, 12:03 AM

    @Paul Hussey: actually, people in the republic will also have to vote on it. So yeah, nah, you’re wrong there

    6
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    Mute Patrick Corr
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    Mar 15th 2021, 5:47 PM

    3rd and 4th paragraphs copied and pasted twice consecutively.

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    Mute leartius
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    Mar 15th 2021, 7:43 PM

    It’s SF making political gain while this government staggers along drunk on this own PR spin. While Leo is busy dancing a tango around the fuzz. Micheál has gone virtual to impress. A welcome distraction on capitol hill. Even St Paddy himself would be applauded how community divides have being ripped open in America. All in the interest of one man. Who not only lost an election but also lost a coup attempt. Still leads a political party and holds court in this Florida palace. What good are virtual shamrocks when democracy is under attack.

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    Mute Matt
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:53 PM

    Ah sure why not. It wont amount to much. Just more time wasting. The only time ireland will be free is when the liffy flows backwards.

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    Mute Martin Dunn
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    Mar 15th 2021, 7:19 PM

    Should voters on both sides of the border agree ………….

    If we are a national community we must have sensitivity to all shades of Irishness … even the Ulster Scot who has resided on this island for centuries ..

    A majority or even a two thirds majority for anything does not define agree …..
    there is enormous need for agreement and that takes patience and time and understanding …there is no need for a vote ever …… just let it happen
    Any vote will simply drive us apart

    4
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    Mute Gerard
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    Mar 15th 2021, 6:20 PM

    It can’t be “Eff the unionists, because they lost”. That’s not how you treat somebody just because you disagree with their opinion. You’d have to do things like provide for schools where Irish is indeed an optional subject. And that’d just be the tip of the iceberg.

    Reunification is supposedly the only goal of nationalism, so if you can achieve that, any other olive branches you can offer to unionists should be on the table.

    Cost issues would evaporate over time, because the social divide issues would. Reunification is a one way door, and sooner or later, most unionists would see it was a lost cause.

    The only thing worse than a sore loser is a sore winner. If nationalists win, people need to be prepared to be gracious winners. That’s all.

    4
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