Fota Wildlife Park to reopen to the public on December 20 after 10-week closure

After a 10-week closure due to bird flu, Fota Wildlife Park will reopen for the festive season with safety measures

Eibhlín Murphy, Ranger, and John Leahy, Senior Ranger, pictured at Fota Wildlife Park. Fota Wildlife Park will reopen to the public just before Christmas on Saturday, December 20th following a 10-week closure due to bird flu. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan / OSM PHOTO

Fota Wildlife Park will reopen to the public just before Christmas on Saturday, December 20, following a 10-week closure due to bird flu.

All birds in Fota Wildlife Park’s population have been tested twice for avian influenza, and all results were negative. The Park will continue to maintain its enhanced biosecurity measures and monitoring protocols.

The 10-week closure was necessary to manage the bird flu outbreak at the facility, which originated from wild bird populations. 

Working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), the Park implemented comprehensive biosecurity protocols and disease control measures.

“Fota Wildlife Park exists to protect rare and endangered species through conservation breeding programmes, research and education. I'm delighted to confirm that we will reopen on December 20th, visitors will once again be able to experience the wonder of seeing some amazing animals in our care such as our Asian lions, cheetahs, Indian rhino and ring-tailed lemurs during the festive season," said Fota director Aileen Tennant.

"I would like to thank the expert team at DAFM for their support during the avian influenza outbreak, and to pay tribute to our incredible team whose top priority throughout the closure period has been the ongoing care and welfare of our animal population. Their dedication and commitment to animal care and conservation work has been continuing diligently while we have been closed."

Fota has faced weekly costs of €120,000 during the closure. Last weekend, the Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, announced funding worth €700,000 towards the facility's biodiversity conservation programmes.

"We are also incredibly grateful for the vital intervention of operational state funding recently announced by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This financial support will secure critical investment in Ireland’s biodiversity infrastructure and allows our dedicated teams to continue with our native species work and international conservation programme," said Ms Tennant.

"With the countdown to Christmas well underway, we are asking the public to continue their long-standing support for Fota Wildlife Park. Please consider donating, purchasing gift vouchers, sponsoring an animal, or pre-booking your online tickets today. This support will ensure we have the resources to help us maintain world-class care standards and to continue our critical conservation work for years to come. The support from our annual pass holders, stakeholders and the public has been overwhelming, and we're deeply grateful for that support”.