Like many longstanding businesses, Tasmania Zoo's closure will be the first in its 17-year history not counting Christmas Day.
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The zoo will be closed to the public indefinitely amid the coronavirus crisis, leaving owner Rochelle Penney devastated.
"We're still here for the animals ... everyday's going to be like Christmas Day but sad," she said.
"Our concern at the moment is the unknown, how long is this going to last? No one knows."
In other news:
Tasmania Zoo receives unused produce from Woolworths and Coles supermarkets as part their farmer's programs.
"But when you're looking at our carnivores like our tigers, lions or our newly-arrived cheetahs ... the food bill for those guys alone is enormous," Ms Penney said.
Unlike other businesses that have shut down, zookeepers are still required onsite to care for the 1500 animals the zoo houses.
With income all but halted, zookeepers at Tasmania Zoo are volunteering to ensure the animals are cared for.
"With people not being able to come through and visit the farm, that's it. There is no income, no money coming in to support wages.
"I'm lucky to have an amazing team of zookeepers here who are now volunteering so we can get through this."
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Ms Penney said there has been "so much confusion" when it comes to whether or not support from government will come to private zoos and animal sanctuaries.
"A lot of my animals here, such as natives species, are owned by the crown ... are they going to help?" she said.
An animal of particular concern is the 40 Tasmanian Devils the zoo homes, which are now entering their breeding season.
Ms Penney said it takes considerable time for zookeepers to monitor the Devils during this time
"If we don't continue that [Devil monitoring] currently we'll miss the boat," she said.
"You can imagine the sort of impact that would have if we miss breeding season now ... what sort of impact will that have on the insurance program?
"I don't know what the government's going to do ... you'd hope to think they would be supporting parks."
The public is still able to support the zoo, if possible, through a donation link set up at tasmaniazoo.com.au.
