Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport will reopen Monday with a number of new safety measures in place.
Guests at the zoo will no longer need the ticket booth. Instead, visitors will go online to the website to buy tickets for one of two sessions.
A morning session will run from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. and an afternoon one will run from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. with staff doing a cleaning in between.
During those sessions, the park will be limited to a maximum of 500 people, which is half the normal capacity.
Visitors will see signs, stickers and barriers that will guide them on a one-way trip through the zoo and remind them to keep a safe distance away from other families.
All staff will be wearing masks and the zoo is requiring visitors over 2 years old to do so as well. Families are also asked to keep the size of their group to five people or less.
Visitors will also find hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the zoo.
"The things that we are working on here that are most important are safety for our staff, our animals and our guests," said zoo director Gregg Dancho.
Indoor exhibits will be closed but all outdoor exhibits are open. That includes the tigers, leopards, spider monkeys and a new area called The Farmyard.
"I think they'll be pretty excited to see people back again, especially the leopards. They love to interact with people through the viewing glass," said animal care specialist Bethany Thatcher.
Staff members have been on site throughout the pandemic caring for the animals while the zoo has been closed.
Because some things are closed, the zoo is rolling back ticket prices to $10 for kids and senior citizens and $15 for adults.
The zoo's gift shop will be closed but there will be an outdoor area for purchases. An app will allow food orders for pickup through the cafe's side window.
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