Fota Wildlife Park Celebrates 40 Years of Conservation in Action with carnival-style entertainment

Fota Wildlife Park Celebrates 40 Years of Conservation in Action with carnival-style entertainment and games!

On Friday June 23^rd Fota Wildlife Park turns 40 and celebrates four decades of conservation in action.

Since opening to the public on the 23rd June 1983, Fota Wildlife Park has expanded from 73 to 100 acres, has grown the animal collection from 59 species to 108, given €4m to conservation programmes, and overseen the births of hundreds of endangered animals including 240 cheetahs, 72 Rothschild’s giraffes and 60 European bison.

Fota Wildlife Park has also been a key participant in many high-profile reintroduction programmes such as the European bison into the UK, Poland and Romania, the Scimitar horned oryx in North Africa, and have released almost 7,000 Natterjack toads in West Kerry in partnership with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Dingle Aquarium.

To mark its 40^th birthday, from Friday June 23^rd to Sunday June 25^th, Fota Wildlife Park is hosting a carnival style weekend of entertainment and games and it is inviting the public to join in its 40^th birthday celebrations.

Throughout the weekend carnival performers such as stilt walkers and jugglers will entertain visitors from 12 to 4pm daily ensuring a true celebration of Fota’s 40 years of bringing the majesty of wildlife to visitors from near and far.

Carnival booths, face painting and an array of fun games will be available from 12pm to 4pm each day, located at the Oasis Restaurant Area in Fota Wildlife Park. Visitors can take part and enjoy the carnival atmosphere as they take on the fun challenges that each game has to offer.  On Friday the 23^rd, you might even hear Cork-based vocal duo, Velvet, doing pop up acapella swing and jazz numbers throughout the afternoon.

Throughout the birthday weekend there will be live feeding of animals such as the Humbolt penguins, Northern cheetahs, Lion tailed macaques, Red pandas, Seals and various primates. All events are free with entry (normal admission rates apply) to Fota Wildlife Park.

To commemorate 40 Years of Fota Wildlife Park, a series of wildlife talks, live events, and educational themed weekends are taking place throughout the summer. See www.fotawildlife.ie for schedule of events.

Image credits: Darragh Kane