The Ecomuseum Zoo in Quebec’s Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, like all non-essential services, has been closed since March 16 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But just because visitors aren’t allowed, that doesn’t mean the zoo can shut down. There’s still a lot to do, with around 400 animals that require care. “We don’t skimp on anything that relates to the well being of the animals,” said executive director David Rodrigue, adding the situation comes with its own unique set of challenges.
One of those challenges is staffing. “We’re a non-profit organization and we care for live animals,” Rodrigue said. “You need a lot of people proportionately to run the operations.” Staffing accounts for around 75 per cent of the zoo’s expenditures and with