A gorilla in a zoo (illustration).

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Katerina Sulova / AP / SIPA

The French Association of Zoological Parks, which brings together 95 establishments in metropolitan France and overseas, was received on Thursday by the office of the Minister of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Alain Griset, the president of this association said on Friday.

Supported in its approach by 47 parliamentarians led by the PS senator of Aude Sébastien Pla, it asked that the State cover 70% of the fixed costs of all the zoos in the country which employ around 10,000 employees. .

These charges are linked to the care necessary to provide to more than 100,000 animals during the five months of closure linked to the two waves of the Covid-19 epidemic.

50% to 80% of employees are still working

"Our specificity is that we cannot disconnect our establishments by putting all our staff on short-time work", explained the manager of the ZooParc de Beauval.

Animal carers, veterinarians, maintenance of green spaces, technical services ... Between 50% and 80% of employees on average continue to work so that animals "do not suffer from confinement, because we are recognized places for the conservation of biodiversity", he pleaded.

These operating costs represent more than half of the turnover on admissions which fell by around 50% in 2020. On January 14, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire announced the assumption of fixed costs up to 70% of closed companies for establishments with more than one million euros in monthly turnover.

Lower the threshold to benefit others

The vast majority of zoos are, however, small structures with a much lower turnover, hence the demand for support to be extended to the entire sector - while "adding" to existing aid.

“Their treasuries are dry,” according to the official.

The office of the Minister Delegate for SMEs assured to have "taken into account the difficulties of the sector" whose claims are "under study".

The Minister of the Economy is considering in particular lowering the threshold of one million euros of turnover, so that aid benefits the smallest structures, all sectors combined (sports halls, etc.).

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