Caldwell zoo announces closing

In a recent press release, Caldwell Zoo in Tyler annouces closure due ro concerns over COVID-19.

"To all our zoo friends and the Tyler community-

The news about COVID-19 is changing rapidly. All of us at the Caldwell Zoo remain steadfast in being a positive and valuable resource to all of our community.

As the situation with COVID-19 changes, we are adapting our policies to be in line with World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We always want to do what is best for our community.

Therefore, as a public health precaution to help prevent the spread of the virus, the Caldwell Zoo is temporarily closing to the public effective March 15th. We plan to reopen on April 3rd. Although the risk of catching the disease remains low in our area, we want to do all we can to reduce the spread of the virus while minimizing any concern for our staff and our community.

We have deep roots in East Texas that spread over 60 years of continuous service. So, by taking this precaution we encourage all our community to join the cause and follow best practices to minimize the spread of this virus. This is a unique situation and we all need to do what we can for the benefit of everyone.

We have been monitoring the health of all the animals under our care along with our staff and we are pleased to announce that all are doing well. Our staff will continue to supply excellent care to our animals while we work together to minimize the effects of the pandemic. The Caldwell Zoo has emergency procedures in place that assure we have additional feed and supplies to last for an extended period of time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not received any reports of wildlife or zoo animals in human care becoming sick with COVID-19.

Doing what is best for our community is our top priority. We realize that closing the zoo temporarily may seem like a bold action, and we do not take this decision lightly. We are committed to doing what is best for all our animals, guests and staff. So, we are taking this step to help lessen the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to be vigilant in monitoring the situation and we will follow the directives of healthcare professionals.

We want the best for everyone in our community and we know that be working together and sharing clear communication, we can get through this difficult time. We thank you for your understanding and support.

We will continue to provide updates at caldwellzoo.org and our social media channels."