Government grants €700k lifeline to Fota Wildlife Park amid bird flu crisis and closure fears

The €700k NPWS funding aims to protect endangered Irish species and stabilise Fota’s operations after a severe avian flu outbreak

Issued by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), it is hoped the funds can secure the future of Ireland’s endangered species including the natterjack toad, white-clawed crayfish, curlew, dunlin and corncrake. File picture: Dan Linehan

Embattled Fota Wildlife Park is to get Government funding worth €700k just months after an outbreak of avian flu left its future hanging in the balance.

Minister for nature, heritage and biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan said the funding will support the facility's biodiversity conservation programmes.