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Phoenix Zoo To Open Doors Mid-June

By Greg Hahne, Lauren Gilger, Mark Brodie
Published: Tuesday, May 26, 2020 - 5:23pm
Updated: Wednesday, May 27, 2020 - 10:39am

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Phoenix Zoo
Sky Schaudt/KJZZ
The entrance to the Phoenix Zoo in 2015.

The Phoenix Zoo is set to open its door to the public on June 15. But that will come with some changes.

The zoo is limiting attendance to 2,500 guests a day, and tickets will need to be bought in advance. Other programs, like camel rides and the stingray bay, also will be unavailable.

However, the zoo will continue to operate Cruise the Zoo on the first weekend of each month through August. During those days, only vehicles will be allowed in.

Since the zoo had to close during its busiest season, it lost $4.5 million in revenue and has been fundraising to offset those losses.

Phoenix Zoo’s spokeswoman Linda Hardwick says the animals experienced behavioral changes due to the lack of interaction from visitors.

But she added caretakers were considered essential workers, and the animals’ routines didn’t change.

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