No income, 2,000 mouths to feed: Lockdown squeezes Greek zoo

Zoo curator Adonis Balas feeds three giraffes at the Attica Zoological Park in Spata, near Athens. After almost three months of closure due to COVID-19, Greece's only zoo could be on the road to extinction: With no paying visitors or - unlike other European zoos - enough government aid to cover its very particular needs, it faces huge bills to keep 2,000 animals fed and healthy.

"As things are ... we still can go on for at least one month," zoo founder and CEO Jean Jacques Lesueur said. "After that, we don't know." | Above: A Sumatran tiger of licks it's lips as it lays down in the Attica Zoological Park in Spata.

Unlike some businesses forced to temporarily close due to virus-control restrictions, the zoo continues to have sizeable operating expenses. Between food, salaries, utilities, medical care and other expenses, the cost of caring for the animals currently exceeds 200,000 euros ($243,000) per month. | Above: An Angola lion looks on as it stands behind a glass wall.

"That's the difference between us and other companies: When they close they close. We close, but we don't close," Lesueur told The Associated Press.

Founded in 2000 and located in the town of Spata, the zoo occupies 20 hectares (50 acres) and is home to 290 species, from elephants to prairie dogs. It's involved in education, conservation and breeding, and belongs to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, which has about 400 members.

Zoo curator Adonis Balas feeds macaques at the Attica Zoological Park in Spata.

Having to close again on November 7 after Greece's two-month spring lockdown came at a bad time for Attica Zoological Park. The zoo normally operates year-round but does a lot of its business during cooler weather "because in Greece people go to the beaches, to the islands, they don't visit zoos" in the summer, the French-born Lesueur said.

Visitors account for more than 99% of its revenue, from tickets, food and beverages and gift shop sales. So every month's revenue counts, and the loss of December, usually busy due to the Christmas holidays, was particularly heavy.

So far, suppliers have shown understanding and are accepting credit. Two-thirds of the zoo's staff is on state-supported furlough, and an expected installment of state aid will take care of this month's pay for the rest, the CEO said. | Above: A touraco bird flies in the Attica Zoological Park in Spata.

Zoo keeper Maria Malia prepares the food of two llamas in the Attica Zoological Park in Spata.

The zoo also has sold 5,000 advance tickets at reduced prices for when the lockdown ends, and Lesueur says that helped pay December's salaries.

Lockdown also affects the zoo's residents, accustomed as they are to crowds of humans. For nearly three months, they've only been seeing their keepers. So the tables were turned when an AP journalist visited last week: Several curious animals and birds came close for a good look.

"Animals miss visitors, because it's part of their life," Lesueur said. "All the animals you see (here) are born in other zoos. So they are used to people." | Above: Zoo keepers Alexis left and Christina prepare food for the animals.

An almost empty parking lot of the Attica Zoological Park in Spata.

Overall, Lesueur says he's optimistic that the zoo will get clearance to reopen in coming weeks. | Above: A wolf touches a glass window in it’s enclosure in the Attica Zoological Park in Spata.

"Except if the COVID (situation) gets worse. That's another story," he said. "Now if we are closed for another two months or three months, I really don't know what is going to happen."

A view of the Reptile House in Attica Zoological Park in Spata.

Angola lions look out from behind glass in their enclosure at the Attica Zoological Park in Spata.

An Arabian oryx stands in an enclosure at Attica Zoological Park, Spata.