From tomorrow Zoos SA will no longer require patrons to be vaccinated, but it will require people taking part in up-close animal experiences to wear masks to prevent the creatures from catching COVID-19.
Some "animal experiences" — as Zoos SA calls chances to feed animals and get near them — will still not be brought back, such as those with great apes because the risk of transmission is still too high.
People will have to wear masks when getting close to lions at the Monarto Safari Park and meerkats, pandas and red pandas at Adelaide Zoo when the "animal experiences" return.
Children under five years old will be included in the mandate.
Adelaide Zoo director Phil Ainsley said there was "definitely a genuine risk to animals in zoos", with some animals overseas contracting COVID-19 from visitors and then dying.
"What we do know is that, very similar to the presentation in humans, the impacts of COVID may vary depending on the COVID variant. So, for example, [with] the Delta variant there is definitely some recordings of deaths in animals in zoos in the northern hemisphere," he said.
Zoos SA brought in a COVID-19 vaccine mandate at the Adelaide Zoo and the Monarto Safari Park in December 2021, angering some people who had paid for annual memberships but had not been vaccinated.
Dr Ainsley said the zoo would be glad to welcome them back.
"Obviously, all of our members are very valuable to us as an organisation, and we really have been grateful for their support previously and ongoing through the pandemic," he said.
"Definitely, we've had conversations and it's a great opportunity for them to come back on site."
Zoo animals have caught COVID-19 overseas and, more rarely, wild animals have caught the virus.
Pets have also caught it but there is no evidence they can pass it on to humans.
There is no registered COVID-19 vaccination for animals in Australia.
Masks will still be required on the Zu-loop bus around Monarto, as they are on all passenger transport in South Australia.
South Australia recorded 2,874 new COVID-19 infections today.
