After a three-month closure due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, the residents of The Living Desert are welcoming visitors back. The Living Desert reopened to the public on June 15th, with a number of new Park rules and policies.
A new habitat, The Australian Adventures, awaits visitors. This habitat is an engaging immersive experience featuring Bennett’s wallabies that bounce alongside exploring guests, free-flying budgies and cockatiels, playful emu, watchful tawny-frog mouths, singing kookaburras, yellow-footed wallabies showing off their climbing abilities and a variety of Australian reptiles basking in the sun.
Key new Park safety rules are as follows:
· Limited Entry: To help limit the number of guests in the Zoo, entry will be limited to 200 guests per hour with a maximum of 1,000 guests per day. This limit includes both members and daily visitors.
· Timed Ticketing for Contact-Free and Expedited Admissions: All tickets must be purchased in advance using The Living Desert’s online system to control capacity and limit the number of guests who are inside the Zoo at any given time. Tickets can be reserved online up to two weeks in advance for contact-free and expedited admissions.
· Hours of Operation: Summer hours of operation will be in effect which means that the Grounds and Gardens open at 7am, with the Zoo and Amenities opening from 8:00am-1:30pm. Last admission is at 1:00pm.
· Face Coverings: For the health and safety of animals, staff, and guests, masks that cover both the nose and mouth or face shields must be worn by all guests over the age of 3 years old while on Zoo grounds.
· One-Way Traffic: There will be a one-way traffic flow through the Zoo in a counterclockwise direction. A downloadable map showing the traffic flow is coming soon.
· Social Distancing: All guests must maintain at least six feet of social physical distancing and refrain from congregating with others that are not within their household.
· Indoor Spaces and Certain Experiences Closed: To maintain proper social distancing, certain indoor spaces and special experiences are closed. For a complete list of these closures, please check The Living Desert’s website.
· The Living Desert advises that these precautions, modifications, and closures are temporary, but are subject to change at any time.
For more information on The Living Desert and its safety measures, please visit: livingdesert.org.