The Nashville Zoo is facing a major financial setback due to the coronavirus pandemic, which is why Nashville Zoo President Rick Schwartz is asking people for help. In a lengthy letter to supporters, the Nashville Zoo President said that, while they are now happy to be able to welcome a limited number of guests back, the three months that the zoo was closed was financially devastating.

“The numbers are pretty bleak,” Rick admitted in the letter  (via WKRN). “We are anticipating a significant budget deficit this year. In-person attendance, which usually makes up about 93% of our operating revenue, has been decimated. To give you a point of reference, our attendance in 2019 was 1,266,764. Our projected attendance for this year has now fallen to 360,000, similar to our annual attendance in 2002.

“Even though we are now open again, with decreased attendance, our revenue can’t keep up with expenses,” he added. “On average, we are losing $105,000 per week, which is roughly the cost of caring for the animals.”

The Nashville Zoo President is relying on the generosity of Music City residents to make sure the popular attraction can continue for years to come.

“Not long ago I was asked in an interview, ‘What’s the one thing you hope never changes in Nashville?'” he recounted. “My answer – the generosity of Nashvillians. This is true of residents of the entire Middle Tennessee region. I am perhaps most impressed with how our community never fails to come together in times of crisis, such as the devastating flood in 2010, the tornadoes earlier this year, and now the COVID-19 pandemic,” he shared.

“We are stronger together,” Rick continued. “And it is your support that is going to help sustain Nashville Zoo this year. I know many in our community are currently facing personal financial hardships. But if you do have the resources at this time, I’d ask that you please consider making a donation. The generosity of our community built Nashville Zoo, and I’m confident that same generosity will help keep the Zoo thriving for generations to come.”

The Nashville Zoo has made several modifications as part of their reopening plan, including keeping attendance at 50 percent of capacity, although not even that many people are currently attending on a daily basis.

“We have been required by the Mayor’s Office to reduce our attendance by half, or 50 percent. And we’re not quite seeing that,” Jim Bartoo, Marketing, and Public Relations Director at the Nashville Zoo said. “In June and July, it was very hot. We were seeing numbers below that, 35 percent, 32 percent.”

In an effort to encourage guests to return to the Nashville Zoo, it is currently offering half-off admission starting at 1:00 PM for the remainder of the month. Advance tickets for admission are required, and not all features are currently open. Find more information at NashvilleZoo.org.