Animal magic: The coronavirus lockdown has resulted in viewings to a zoo’s webcams soaring by 27,000 PER CENT
- The Hampshire zoo has reported 64,000 viewings compared to 187 last week
- Dedicated workers are taking care of the animals even though the zoo is closed
- The zoo’s live flamingo cam is proving particularly popular with remote viewers
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With the UK in coronavirus lockdown, a zoo in Hampshire has seen a huge surge in people tuning in to view its live animal webcams.
Thousands of families have enjoyed live access to Marwell Zoo’s flamingos, penguins, giraffes and black-and-white-ruffed lemurs without leaving the house.
Viewings this week have reached 64,000 compared to 187 last week – an increase of nearly 27,000 per cent.
Thousands of families have enjoyed live access to Marwell Zoo’s flamingos, penguins, giraffes and black-and-white-ruffed lemurs without leaving the house
Paul Simmons, Head of Marketing, said in a statement: ‘We are absolutely blown away by the number of people logging onto our webcams. It’s gone bonkers! It was pootling along for a few days then suddenly it all went crazy.
‘Even though we’re closed, it’s nice that people can still keep in touch with what’s going on at the zoo and our conservation work through our social media channels and webcams.’
Although the zoo – home to over 140 species and owned by Marwell Wildlife, a global conservation charity leading programs in the UK, Africa and across the world – is temporarily closed, the charity’s dedicated animal teams including zookeepers and vets are working hard to ensure the animals are enjoying the same levels of care, the statement said.
The zoo reports that remote viewers are particularly enjoying watching the zoo’s live flamingo cam with a total of 34,500 in the past week compared to 86 the previous week – an increase of 34,500 per cent.
James Ellis, Birds Team Leader, said: ‘It’s breeding time here at the zoo and you may see online that our flamingos have been performing elaborate group courtship displays such as synchronised wing-raising and “head-flagging”, which involves raising the neck and beak and turning the head from side to side.
Webcam viewings at Marwell Zoo have reached 64,000 compared to 187 last week
‘They may also start nest building too – flamingos build cone-shaped nests that look like mounds of mud.’
The charity engages with over 50,000 schoolchildren through curriculum-based education programs and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors each year to its 140-acre site.
For more information visit www.marwell.org.uk and click here for the webcams.