LOS ANGELES  – The gates may be closed, but beyond them life at the LA Zoo continues pretty much as before.

“Animals don’t stop their lives just because there’s a pandemic," Dr. Dominique Keller said, "and nor do we when we take care of them.”

Dr. Keller recently joined the zoo as their new Chief Veterinarian and Director of Animal Health and Wellness. She says the staff has always taken extra precautions around certain animals like primates.

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“Because we’re so closely related genetically to them, we’ve always worn personal protective equipment when handling and working with them and that’s to protect them more than to protect us," she explained. "That didn’t really need to change with the addition of coronavirus to the mix.”  

What did change was the number of animals that now get those same precautions. The zoo expanded their high risk list, adding species they thought could be susceptible. Cats weren’t on the list until a tiger at the Bronx Zoo tested positive. Keller says they immediately made changes, increasing precautions.

“Wearing face masks, wearing gloves when handling their food or anything around the cat," she said. "We also limit the personnel that can go in to only essential people. We’ve reduced the amount of training that the animals get because that does allow us to be a little bit more socially distant.”

What they haven’t done is reduce their veterinary staff – which includes both full and part time vets as well as veterinary technicians and quarantine keepers. 

“All of which are considered essential, at this time, to provide the best care that we can," Keller said.

They’re all still reporting to work, taking extra precautions around each other and social distancing, although that’s not always possible. “In certain circumstances like in veterinary procedures we have to be closer because the patient is on the table and we’re working in a group," she explained.

There’s also the daily care and feeding of the zoo’s population that needs to continue as well as several ongoing conservation projects.

“Frogs for example are breeding at the moment. We’ve got egg masses," Dr. Keller said. "And the same for the condors, we’ve actually got eggs going. So all of that is essential.” 

On the whole she says they’re trying to disrupt the animals lives as little as possible and she doesn’t believe any of them will be negatively impacted by the adjustments the staff has had to make. They probably haven’t even noticed them and Dr. Keller plans to keep it that way.

“We’re all still here. The animals lives continue. We care for them 24 hours a day and that’s never going to change," she said.

Whether the gates are open or not.

If you have questions or concerns about the health of your own pet, Dr. Keller suggests you contact your veterinarian.  

The Los Angeles Zoo is currently closed through at least April 19. If you are missing the animals, the staff regularly posts videos and updates on social media including their YouTube channel.