Hope Zoo gets extended Lifespan
Published:Thursday | August 26, 2021 | 12:10 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
The Corporate Area-based Hope Zoo, which had been teetering on the brink of closure as COVID-19 ravaged its revenue streams, has been given a lifeline to help sustain its operations, including more than 1,100 animals, by Lifespan.
Lifespan CEO Nayana Williams, in partnership with her associates, has stepped in to extend a helping hand after zoo operators revealed its dire state last month.
Pre-COVID events revenue generated $2 million to $2.5 million per month, which offset staff and maintenance costs as the grounds hosted weddings, corporate events, parties, and baby showers. Many of those events were staged at night-time when the zoo was closed.
With the pandemic, the zoo faced a yawning gap to cover the approximately $1 million monthly food bill for the animals, including $200,000-$300,000 to fill the stomachs of the two lions, leading to staff cuts and other cost-saving measures.
Lifespan’s three-tier plan, which kicked in this month, will help to bridge the gap.
From every 340ml kid-size bottle of water sold, the company will donated $1 to the zoo monthly.
In addition, it will sponsor one of the zoo’s animal species – the camel, which is often associated with water and which joined the Hope Zoo family earlier this year.
After seeing the camels, Lifespan General Manager Robert Scott told The Gleaner that his team fell in love with the “tall, majestic animals”.
He is anticipating that this addition will also help drive up ticket sales.
“When people out there know that we have a camels out there, then they will go and visit the zoo,” he said.
The third aspect of the plan is to host an event at the zoo for the public when the Government gives the green light for such gatherings.
“It’s really about getting kids to come to the zoo [and] learn about the animals,” he said, disclosing that Lifespan has written to roughly 50 companies, asking them to also join in supporting the zoo.
“We feel like we have done something good,” he said of Lifespan’s efforts.