Clon wildlife enthusiasts welcomed to paint the jungle

A jungle trail of life-sized animal sculptures, including elephants, tigers and crocodiles, is en route to a West Cork town.

Clonakilty has given the official thumbs-up to a €130,000 plan to make it Ireland’s only Jungle City – and two dozen sculptures of “talking” jungle animals are due to arrive within weeks.

Organisers are also calling on local artists, schools and voluntary groups to volunteer to paint the sculptures which also include orangutans and hornbill birds. “Lots of people who are in business or who have kids are very much in favour of the plan — there’s a general buzz of excitement around about it,” said Mary Powys a spokeswoman for the Jungle City project.