Financial impact of Covid-19 forces Farnham's Birdworld to close aquarium permanently
All 1,700 animals have been rehomed.
Last updated 30th Sep 2020
The country's biggest bird park - based in Farnham - has fallen victim to the coronavirus pandemic with the announcement that the aquarium at Birdworld is closing.
In a statement it says Underwater World is having to shut permanently due to the financial impact of the virus.
It also said it is not able to put in place measures for social distancing in the building.
The statement goes on to say that all 1,700 aquatic animals have been rehomed at SEA LIFE Centres across the UK, including London, Birmingham and Brighton.
St Andrews Aquarium in Scotland and Marwell Zoo in Winchester, Crocodiles of the World in Oxfordshire and Tropiquaria in Somerset have also offered to rehome the animals.
Duncan Bolton, Curator at Birdworld, said the move was necessary to protect the park's future:
"Aquariums are expensive facilities to run and given that we haven't been able to re-open Underwater World in a COVID-Secure way since March, we are unable to continue operating the facility.
"The closure of the attraction will significantly reduce our monthly overheads and will allow us to continue investing in Birdworld.
"Our priority has always been, and continues to be, delivering the very best possible care to the animals at the park."
He said the park had not received any support from the government during the pandemic: "As of yet, no zoo or aquarium has received any support from the £100million rescue package promised by the government in June and given the strict criteria set, only a handful of organisations across the UK qualify to apply for the funding.
"Meanwhile, businesses like ours are continuing to operate with concern for the future, having to make decisions, such as the closure of Underwater World, to save ourselves.
" Animal welfare remains our top priority and therefore our costs are unwavering.
"We are incredibly thankful for the support of our guests who have visited us since re-opening as well as over 380 people who have made donations through our GoFundMe campaign and hope that action will be taken to protect zoos across the UK throughout the winter season."
He said the park was "extremely grateful to all eight organisations which are offering our aquatic animals new homes.
"Like many zoos, Birdworld does not buy and sell animals, these animals are being donated to the other organisations, ensuring that they have gone to the very best, long-term homes possible."
To find out how you can support your local zoo visit https://biaza.org.uk/news/detail/help-needed-for-zoos-facing-worst-winter-in-memory or follow the #YourZooNeedsYou campaign on social media.