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A26 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 5 May 2020
Zoos turn to social media to delight, raise money amid virus

By TERRY TANG the federal program. It also
Associated Press started an online subscrip-
PHOENIX (AP) — The Phoe- tion program offering daily
nix Zoo, struggling like oth- behind-the-scenes videos
ers worldwide during coro- with animals and zookeep-
navirus closures, has found ers. It's $14.95 a month;
an unlikely savior in a sloth. $9.95 for zoo members.
While Fernando may be "Our objective is to just
a slow mover offline, the make it to the point where
4-year-old Linne's two- they allow us to reopen for
toed sloth has risen rap- business and the people
idly on the internet. Since can come and enjoy the
Fernando joined Cameo, animals," zoo president Joel
a video-sharing platform Parrott said.
where people pay for ce- The Toronto Zoo is live-
lebrity shoutouts, the zoo streaming moments like
has received 150 requests weigh-ins of red pandas,
for a personalized clip. His drawing tens of thousands
popularity let the zoo boost of new social media follow-
his fee from $25 to $50. ers, spokeswoman Aman-
"I think we've gotten more da Chambers said. The
creative, kind of thinking strategy also helps spotlight
a little bit outside the box. Fernando, the two-toed sloth, falls asleep inside his habitat at the Phoenix Zoo Monday, April 27, lesser known animals.
We're trying things we nev- 2020, in Phoenix. "It's the opportunity to high-
er have before," said Bert Associated Press light species that often
Castro, Phoenix Zoo's presi- don't get high-profiled,"
dent and CEO. visitors and revenue. About 60% of its members Castro believes behind- CEO Dolf DeJong said. "For
Social media is one way Besides jobs, the well-being have applied for loans the-scenes Facebook Live us, it's being able to talk
zoos worldwide are engag- of the animals is at stake. through the federal coro- videos make people feel about Blanding's turtles, an
ing with people who can "They can't just send their navirus relief package in- more connected to the endangered species from
no longer visit — their main employees home and turn tended to limit layoffs at zoo. In the past month, our community that we're
source of income — and off the lights and lock the small businesses and non- viewership has spiked 350%, breeding."
raise some much-needed doors. They have to care profits. and its Instagram follow- California's Monterey Bay
cash. Zoos and aquariums for animals," said Dan Ashe, The Phoenix Zoo, a $1 mil- ing is growing. Fernando's Aquarium is captivating
have brought adorable dis- president of the Association lion-a-month operation, Cameo appearances may people by live-streaming
traction by posting photos of Zoos and Aquariums. has been losing $80,000 a be a tiny boost, but "it's so African penguins and
and videos of animals, but The association's 220 U.S. day since shuttering March popular we'll continue it for sharks. It also created You-
the closures mean they're zoos and aquariums, which 18, Castro said. The facility as long as we can," Castro Tube "MeditOceans" videos
still in jeopardy. While a typically host a combined in the nation's fifth-largest said. for meditating to sights and
smattering of zoos, from 200 million people annu- city has been approved The Oakland Zoo in the sounds of ocean creatures.
Utah to Germany, have ally, all closed, Ashe said. for $2.7 million in loans un- San Francisco Bay Area re- Divers jazzed up their kelp
started reopening with so- A recent survey showed der the federal program cently brought back more forest maintenance routine
cial distancing rules, there's more than 60% have laid and has raised hundreds than 200 full-time employ- with a dance to the Sug-
no telling when they will off or furloughed employ- of thousands online for its ees — at least until June arhill Gang's "Jump On It" in
reach their usual levels of ees. 3,000 animals. — after getting loans under a popular video.q

Carnival to resume cruises in summer when virus order ends

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON showing stops in the Baha- Many cruise ships had out-
The Associated Press mas, the Cayman Islands, breaks at sea, with some
MIAMI (AP) — Carnival Jamaica and Mexico, passengers and crew
Cruise Line announced among other places. members dying on board
Monday it will start cruis- Carnival Cruise Line said or after disembarking from
ing again, from Florida and ships will not be cruising international trips.
Texas, beginning in August. from Alaska, Hawaii and The CDC says infectious
These Caribbean trips are Australia through Aug. 31. diseases can easily spread
the first announced by one The State Department be- when crew members from
of the major cruise lines gan warning against cruise a ship with an outbreak
since the coronavirus pan- travel on March 8, and the transfer to other ships. The
demic forced a near-total CDC issued a no-sail order health agency says out-
pause in the global cruise on March 14, which was breaks of COVID-19 on
industry. extended and set to expire cruise ships pose a risk be-
The ports of Miami, Cape on July 24. cause they can spread the
Canaveral and Galveston, The order prompted several disease into communities
Texas were selected be- countries, including some across the world after dis-
cause they are accessible in the Caribbean, to reject embarkation.
by car for the majority of cruise ships suspected of Carnival Cruise Line has not
the guests, the company carrying infected passen- revealed what measures
Carnival Cruise ships are docked at the Port of Tampa Thursday, said in a statement. The gers and crew members, is taking to prevent future
March 26, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. eight ships named by the stranding some ships at sea outbreaks once it resumes
Associated Press company have itineraries for weeks. sailing.q