Bratislava Zoo Preparing for Possible Quarantine Due to Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Bratislava, April 1 (TASR) - Bratislava Zoo is preparing for the possibility of full quarantine as part of measures against foot-and-mouth disease, zoo director Matej Dobsovic has stated on social media. "We're preparing for all possibilities, including staying at the zoo with the animals in complete quarantine," stated Dobsovic. The director mentioned last week that strict measures to prevent infection are in place at the zoo. Some of the measures are even stricter than the ones in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. The zoo estimates monthly revenue losses of between €250,000 and €350,000, and if the zoo were to be closed for four months, the losses could reach up to one million. Bratislava Zoo, along with other zoos in Slovakia, will seek compensation from the government. Bratislava Zoo has been closed since March 21 as part of national measures. It was originally scheduled to open its 65th season on March 22. In this regard, the zoo stated that after the flood in September, it's now facing another major challenge, a dangerous disease that threatens many rare species. "We could lose all of them if the disease spreads inside the gates of our zoo," it warned. lin/df