Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation has announced that zoos across the country will reopen on Monday, following their closure for over five months due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a statement, the ministry said that the reopening will take place provided that all employees and visitors follow the precautionary measures imposed by the Egyptian government to deal with the pandemic.

It added that social distancing measures will be taken into consideration during family visits, with security guards to roam parks to ensure that these conditions are applied.

The number of visitors that will be allowed inside the Giza Zoo will not exceed 3,000 visitors. In the recent years, several investors and government entities have pumped in investors to establish new areas inside Giza Zoo. This has come in addition to renovations of its restaurants and restrooms for its human guests, as well as the development of animal shelter areas that saw new species added to the zoo’s animal guests.

The zoo was established by Khedive Ismail in 1891. Although the zoo lost its membership with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2004, for ignoring WAZA inspector recommendations, the zoo still boasts some of the old greatness of khedival era in Egypt.

The zoo covers an area of about 80 feddan, and is one of the largest zoos in the world. It is comprised of a museum built in 1906 that features rare collections of mummified animals, birds, and reptiles.