How the Pets’ Corner residents are faring during coronavirus

16 April 2020

They might be in lockdown due to coronavirus but the residents of Aberdeen’s Pets’ Corner are still having a ‘furry’ good time with their keepers.

The facility in the city’s Hazlehead Park has been closed to the public for two weeks so there has been a reduction in the usual hundreds of visitors.

However, the keepers – who are working at the menagerie one at a time to ensure social distancing – are giving the centre’s residents lots of attention.

A video is now available at https://youtu.be/x98a84DPkC4 and will be also on Aberdeen City Council’s Facebook and Twitter feeds showing how one of the keepers is looking after the animals including the meerkats Dee, Don and Den, and Mason the braying donkey.

An Aberdeen City Council spokesperson said: “All the animals are coping pretty well although some are a bit more vocal than others, especially Mason the donkey as he seems to hee-haw every time he sees the keepers. Mason’s Shetland pony pal Hector doesn’t seem too bothered but he’s pretty unsociable at the best of times so we think he just enjoying the peace and quiet!

“All the animals are quite content and they are happy and healthy which is the main thing. I’m sure they’re looking forward to seeing people again at Pets’ Corner just as much as the staff are.”

Meerkats Dee, Don, and Den have proved a popular attraction at the facility, which had a £750,000 renovation and expansion including a larger area for the fish and reptiles, and the creation of a new education room.

As part of the renovations, a custom-built indoor and sleeping area, and large outside play area was especially built for the meerkats.

The work at Pets Corner included replacement of the roof over both parts of the buildings, internal alterations and refurbishment, the installation of new fish and reptile tanks, new external access ramp and paths, and an upgrade to the staff facilities. Friends of Hazlehead Park also supported the work.

Other animal attractions at Pets’ Corner include alpacas Archie and Betty, a kune kune pig, geese, turkey, chickens, sheep, goats, Shetland pony, miniature donkeys, fish, reptiles, budgies, ducks, guinea fowl, canaries, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, and Vadar the albino Burmese python.