On May 16, the Calgary Zoo announced that it would be reopening May 23 after a two-month closure due to COVID-19. Accompanying the reopening would be a number of measures meant to promote physical distancing and mitigate the risk of spreading the virus. A limited number of visitors would be admitted to the zoo, and they would be required to purchase a timed-entry ticket to get in.
A few days after the zoo reopened, my wife and I, along with her family, made the drive into Calgary to see the animals. After two months of being cooped up in my home office and virtually never leaving the house, I was grateful for the outing. I was also a little leery - like many people, I'm concerned that complacency could lead to a second wave of the virus.
The changes implemented by the zoo were noticeable from the moment we arrived at the parking lot, where a masked employee screened us to ensure we had our tickets and weren't sick. Signs advised us to leave one parking stall between vehicles in an effort to maintain physical distancing.
More changes awaited us inside. All around, signs cautioned us against leaning on fences and railings. Indoor areas of the zoo were barred to the public, and we had to move through the zoo in one direction, following a path of white arrows and pink paw prints. This one-way experience was heavily enforced - at one point, an employee accosted a group that was heading in the wrong direction, and pointed them the right way.
It was a pleasant afternoon. The sun was shining, and the animals were exceptionally active. As we approached the lions, we noticed one of the females crouched, preparing to pounce on some unknown prey. This also drew the attention of her male companions, who came over to investigate. They were greeted by swats from her large paws, and shortly after, roars emanated from the enclosure and filled the zoo.
Elsewhere, three separate peacocks spread their colourful plumage to dazzle us, and we even saw the snow lion strolling around its enclosure - something I've never seen in a lifetime of visits.
But, for me, the risk of COVID-19 still hung over the entire experience. This didn't detract from the outing, but it made me aware of how much things have changed in a mere two months. We've gradually adapted to measures that, only months ago, would have seemed utterly absurd - it's now as common to see a person with a mask as without, and elongated lines with two metre gaps between people have become the norm.
Right now, it's hard for me to imagine the world returning to the way it was before the pandemic. While masks and social distancing were perhaps originally intended as temporary measures, it feels a little like they are calcifying into a new reality. Whether that is the case remains to be seen.
