Jason Pearson of Hunter Valley Zoo can't wait to get the doors open again from Monday but, like restaurants and pubs, is still coming to terms with the changes.
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"We can't put on any shows, which is unfortunate because they're always popular," he said. "And animal patting is out too.
"But if we're lucky our female capybara might have given birth by then," he said. "But then again, I've said that before and she's kept us waiting, so who knows?"
Capybara?
"The world's biggest rodent ... like a big guinea pig."
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Mr Pearson says the opening will be good for both staff and the animals.
"It has been hard having no-one here for the staff," he said. "But at the same time there's no doubt that the animals have been missing the interaction with the people too.
"Whenever our handlers go in the pen they're being swamped. They've all noticed it."
The popular kangaroo walk-through area will be open but, like the rest of the place, it will require people to safely distance and adhere to the four square metre rule.
"We're putting our heads together trying to see what quirky things we can come up with but it's challenging," Mr Pearson said.
"Even everyday things like the barbecues ... we can have the free barbecue going, but only one of them because we can't have two people cooking side by side.
"And we have to take names and phone numbers of everyone coming through the door, which means getting in will be a much slower process."
On the positive side, the recent rain has made the place a picture.
"It looks great. Look, it will be a bit different but we're just delighted to have people coming back.
"People will still enjoy themselves."
