Why do zoos generally close at 5 PM??

Question

I was surprised recently when I planned on taking my kids to the zoo after work and discovered that our local zoo is only open from 9-5. I figured a zoo would be open until dark. I've checked and most other zoos also close early in the evening. What is the reason for the minimal hours of operation?

Answer 1

There are a host of reasons.

First, most people don't go to the zoo on weekdays, merely weekends. Weekdays are typically slower times for zoos, even during the summer.

Second, during much of the year in much of the country, the needs of the animal in terms of weather requires that it be indoors before nightfall. Example: Orangutans cannot be outside unless it is a minimum of 60 degrees. In a lot of the country, this means that in the Fall, Winter, and Early Spring it cannot be outside until later in the day and must be brought in earlier in the day.

Third, there are safety concerns with having visitors on park for many hours after the keepers have gone home. The keepers that do the bulk of care for the animals work 8 to 5, generally speaking. Later in the evening, it varies but the zoo I worked at for 6 years, a night crew comes in that is usually just a few keepers that check on animals and do some prep work for the next day. In our zoo, they started at 9 p.m. and left at 6 a.m.

Fourth, there just aren't that many people that try to go to zoos that late in the day. There are a lot of zoos that have extended hours during the summer, usually on Friday through Sunday when people are most likely to try such a thing. It is actually a great thing if you get the chance to visit a zoo at that time. Contrary to what people are saying here, many of the animals common to a lot of zoos actually become more active at dusk. The big cats, the elephants, the wolves, and so many others tend to spend the hotter times of the day trying to conserve their energy and stay cool rather than frolic. In the morning and evening, that is when their true personalities come out. It isn't true of all the animals, but certainly for a great many.

I suggest you look into whether or not your zoo has some evening hours during the summer. Some zoos even have a great family deal where, for a fee, you get to spend the night on grounds. If you've never heard a tiger roar, you will if you get to be on grounds at night, I promise you.

Answer 2

Having worked at a zoo that was only open from 9-5, I can honestly say that it's because, despite what you think, most people don't come after work. They come on the weekends. We had special nights where we'd stay open until 9p and we'd get maybe 100 people. It is too cost prohibitive to stay open after a certain time. Think of all the people they'd have to pay, cashiers, food people, security, animal staff, medical staff, etc.

Also, after 5 p.m. a lot of the animals have settled down for the night and are asleep, or close to it. No one wants to see animals sleeping, but then again, people get made when it's 95 degrees out at 12 p.m. and they complain that the animals are not more active.

Answer 3

I think that for one thing, the animals need to live a normal life. They need to have some free time to spen together while it is still bright out.
But another reason is also so that food shops don't have to deal with getting everyone through the line and fed at dinner time. If the zoo was open any later, they would have to give a food option for dinner. All the people there would take a long time to get through line, eat their food, clean up, and then leave. If they didn't close at 5, they'd have to close at 8 so everyone could have a chance to eat. And again to my first point, if they closed at 8, when would the animals get some quiet time when they don't have to sleep?
Also, can you even imagine all the time it takes to close down the zoo? Zookeepers have to clean up and care for the animals, matinence people have to clean trash and bathrooms, and vendors have to close their shops. If they closed at dark, the workers would be there very late.

Answer 4

Mainly because that is the hour that most animals start to go to bed. Most zoos however will extend their hours in the summer months due to longer days, but each is different.

Would you really want to go to a zoo when the animals are all in bed sleeping? Would not be very fun.

Answer 5

The keepers have a life too you know! The keepers need to do their after-hours work such as feeding, medicating, cleaning and any reports before they leave for the night and in many cases, it's important (for safety reasons) that this work all be completed before it's dark. Additionally, by getting patrons out long before dark, they can ensure that the park is secure and empty before the night watch duty comes on.

Answer 6

I would assume for the same reason any other attraction would close early. Either lack of interest, lack of infrastructure (lighting) etc.

Attractions like zoos probably make most of their money off of school trips and group events which would occur most often in the middle of the day rather than the evening.

Answer 7

good question... i recently visited the Bronx Zoo.. and had to face the same problem....
probably because lack of ability to maintain the zoo's for longer hours

Answer 8

because they need time for the animals to wind down for feeding before it gets too late in the night...imgaine how long it would take to feed all those animals...and they probably also figure the most popular time to go to the zoo would be during the day...not during supper time..or afterwards....

Answer 9

My guess is: they can't afford to pay overtime... Plus animal behavior may change at night, making it less interesting for visitors...

Answer 10

that's so the animals can settle in before nightfall.