Zoo Atlanta is battening down the hatches for a winter wallop, announcing a full shutdown today, as the city grapples with an arctic blast. With temperatures poised to take a polar plunge, the zoo has prioritized the safety of both visitors and its resident critters, closing its doors to the public.
The icy grip of frigid temperatures, according to FOX 5 Storm Team, will deliver a chill, expected to dip for around 40 hours from Friday evening straight through tomorrow morning. In anticipation, the zoo confirmed that while "the Zoo’s grounds will be closed for the safety of visiting members and guests, animal care continues regardless of whether the Zoo is open or closed," as noted in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The city, not immune to the whims of Mother Nature, will experience wind chills teetering near zero degrees at the crack of dawn Saturday. The high for the day is struggling to even breach the 30-degree mark in the afternoon, according to meteorologists at Atlanta News First.
Arming themselves against the cold snap, Zoo Atlanta has put pre-existing procedures into play to shelter their fauna from the freeze. "The Animal Care Teams monitor weather forecasts well in advance. Preparations for cold include but are not limited to shifting animals into indoor areas and providing access to supplemental heat, nesting, or burrowing materials, depending upon the needs of the species," they said, as mentioned by Atlanta News First. These measures ensure that even with the park deserted by foot traffic, the animals are snug and catered for in the teeth of a wintry blow.
Zoo Atlanta urges those planning tomorrow visit to stay tuned to their official website for updates on opening times as the city thaws out from this cold snap.
