The charity that runs the Highland Wildlife Park has pleaded with the Scottish Government to allow it to re-open earlier than planned amid fears for its future.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which also operates Edinburgh Zoo, has been told the earliest the attractions can resume is 15 July, despite zoos and safari parks in England being given the green light from Monday.
It says delaying the re-opening of the facilities for at least five weeks will cost it £500,000 in lost income.
Last week RZSS said it had to borrow £5 million since lockdown.
With a monthly bill of almost £700,000 to keep both sites going, the charity said it hoped to be able to re-open by the start of July to avoid a “financially disastrous” situation which would put the future of both facilities in doubt.
Chief executive David Field said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s efforts to reopen the tourism sector in Scotland because we desperately need our parks to open again.
“While we understand it is vital for lockdown measures to be eased gradually, we had hoped to open by the start of July as part of phase two, with similar safety measures to protect staff and visitors as the zoos and safari parks which will reopen in England over the next few days.
“We also expected to open before places like hotels, pubs and restaurants because our parks are ideal spaces for people and families to enjoy nature in safe outdoor environments.
“Delaying the reopening of Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park for at least five weeks means we will miss the start of the summer and lose £500,000.”
Mr Field said every day the sites remain closed increases the risk that the RZSS will not be able to continue its wildlife conservation work.
This includes saving the wildcat in Scotland, breeding polar bears at Highland Wildlife Park, bringing giraffes to Edinburgh Zoo and protecting chimpanzees from poaching in Uganda.
The charity has written to the Scottish Government to suggest practical ways to reopen both parks.
Mr Field added: “We have always been prepared to reopen initially to visitors and members from our local communities because we recognise that people travelling is a concern.
“All around Europe, we are seeing zoos reopen safely, with many visitors travelling by car rather than using public transport and people behaving with respect and responsibility when they arrive.
“Zoos and safari parks are perfect places for people to visit as society gradually starts to reopen and we will continue to discuss these community benefits with the Scottish Government in the hope that we can open for the start of the summer.
“Reopening will also help our charity recover because right now we are an endangered species in zoological terms.”
This week Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing raised hopes of financial support for the wildlife park after its future was raised by Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart.
