Dublin Zoo has projected that a virus outbreak that resulted in the death of two juvenile Asian elephants earlier this year might cost between €100,000 and €150,000 in management expenses.
The spokesperson divulged that substantial expenses persist as Dublin zoo battles the Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV).
In the recent month, the Irish-based zoo confirmed a health clearance for their Asian elephant group, following meticulous care by the local zoo employees along with aid from international vet experts, other zoos, and assistance from An Garda Síochána as well as the governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
The zoo had previously reported in July that two elephants, named Asha and Samiya, had been infected by the virus, a discovery that followed the passing of two other elephants, Avani and Zinda.
The spokesperson also noted that “The financial implications of combating the outbreak are foreseen to be in the six-figure range, likely between €100,000 and €150,000. These endeavours signify our unchanging dedication to the wellbeing and health of our animals”.
The zoo shared the financial details of handling the virus outbreak when the Zoological Society of Ireland released its 2023 annual report. The document indicated that the rainiest July in history last year led to a 9% decrease in visitor figures to 1.16 million at Dublin Zoo. The zoo had 937,921 day-visitors and 224,016 Wild Lights visitors during the same period.
Involving expenses linked with the EEHV outbreak and climatic effects caused an operational loss of €486,000 for the society, which runs both Dublin Zoo and Fota Island Wildlife Park in Cork. This is in stark contrast to the operational surplus of €1.09 million in 2022.
Dr Christoph Schwitzer, the Director of Dublin Zoo, stated that “The adverse weather in July irreparably dented our visitor figures.”
The society saw a 2% increase in revenues, totalling €25.1 million, while the operational loss entailed non-cash depreciation charges totalling €4.14 million.
However, the spokesperson highlighted that the zoo is still in the green before depreciation costs, which solidifies its ability to fund vital nature conservation schemes and capital investment projects.
Anticipating improvements, the spokesperson shared that “visitor statistics for 2024 are looking upbeat and are exceeding those of 2023 so far.”