The COVID-19 pandemic closed Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo from mid-March to June.
Now, owners anticipate a $29 million revenue loss by the end of the year. President and CEO Dennis Pate said the coronavirus has severely impacted the zoo's business and staffing.
“Well, in many ways, everything from the number of guests that visit, to the depth of our programs, to the number of staff we have to conduct those programs, and financially have had a severe impact,” he said.
Pate expects it will take years to recover 2020's losses — it's likely the zoo will not recovering its losses until 2022. But in the meantime, he says guests can support the zoo by visiting or donating to the zoo's emergency fund.