JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will be closed Monday through Wednesday for guests, educational programs and events. The Zoo and Gardens will reopen Thursday, pending any unforeseen wind or water damage.
“As Zones A and B are now under mandatory evacuation in Jacksonville, we have decided to close the Zoo and Gardens for the safety of our guests and to allow time for staff to prepare the facility for possible strong winds and flooding,” Executive Director of the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Tony Vecchio, said.
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Animals will be kept in or near their night houses for their safety as the storm approaches. The large animals and carnivores will be secured in their indoor quarters during the storm.
A select group of Zoo staff stay behind to ride out the storm and protect the animals and the facility.
“We are taking every factor into account to ensure the safety of our patrons, employees and their families, and our animals,” Vecchio said. “We encourage our community to stay safe and vigilant in their storm preparations.”
The Zoo and Gardens will announce additional closings and re-openings on social media and JacksonvilleZoo.org/ZooClosure.
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Cox Media Group
