- K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneBenbough Amphitheater, which hosts the Frequent Flyers Bird Show, sits empty at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on May 19, 2020. The Safari Park and Zoo have been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.
![Edward, a baby southern white rhino, walks around at the...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneEdward, a baby southern white rhino, walks around at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on May 19, 2020. The Safari Park and Zoo have been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![Animal training manager Susie Ekard sits with Kasten, a caracal,...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneAnimal training manager Susie Ekard sits with Kasten, a caracal, who is one of the animal ambassadors at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on May 19, 2020. The Safari Park and Zoo have been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![A ring-tailed Lemur carries a baby at the San Diego...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneA ring-tailed Lemur carries a baby at the San Diego Zoo on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![Jennifer Roesler wildlife care specialist holds Omeo, a koala joey,...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneJennifer Roesler wildlife care specialist holds Omeo, a koala joey, as he holds onto a stuffed panda bear at the San Diego Zoo on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![The Outback area at the San Diego Zoo sits empty...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneThe Outback area at the San Diego Zoo sits empty on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![Center Street, where the some bears live at the San...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneCenter Street, where the some bears live at the San Diego Zoo, sits empty on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![Amahle, an African river hippo calf swims at the San...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneAmahle, an African river hippo calf swims at the San Diego Zoo on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during the coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![The flamingo area, normally one of the most crowded areas...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneThe flamingo area, normally one of the most crowded areas at the San Diego Zoo, sits empty on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![Satu, an orangutan chews on a stick at the San...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneSatu, an orangutan chews on a stick at the San Diego Zoo on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during the coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![A siamang sits on a structure at the San Diego...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneA siamang sits on a structure at the San Diego Zoo on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.![The San Diego Zoo entrance sits empty on May 19,...]()
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-TribuneThe San Diego Zoo entrance sits empty on May 19, 2020. The zoo has been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals throughout it.
K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune
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Benbough Amphitheater, which hosts the Frequent Flyers Bird Show, sits empty at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park on May 19, 2020. The Safari Park and Zoo have been closed during to coronavirus pandemic but workers have been caring for the animals.
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The San Diego Zoo and Safari Park are home to more than 6,500 animals, but one species has been noticeably absent: people.
Both facilities closed to the public on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Life goes on within the Zoo and Safari Park, of course. Animals are feeding and breeding, squabbling and squawking, regardless of whether or not there are any guests to watch them.
We went behind the scenes to see what we’ve been missing — and to see, perhaps, whether the animals were missing us.
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