Fota Wildlife Park sees 50% surge in visitors after reopening from bird flu closure

Wildlife park records record winter crowds after reopening, as families return and conservation and education programmes resume

'It’s a very uplifting time — since reopening on December 20, we’ve seen about 50% more visitation than the same time period last year, which is very significant,' Fota Wildlife Park director Aileen Tennant said. Picture: Larry Cummins

Fota Wildlife Park has seen a 50% increase in visitor numbers compared to this time last year since its reopening after a bird flu-enforced 10-week closure.

The park reopened on December 20 after what was described as “a very challenging time” during which staff had to humanely euthanize more than 73 birds. 

Aileen Tennant, the park’s director, said: “It’s a very uplifting time — since reopening on December 20, we’ve seen about 50% more visitation than the same time period last year, which is very significant.

"Visitors and annual pass holders have really turned up in droves — it’s probably the highest figures we’ve ever seen for that time of year.

“There’s so much energy, families and regular visitors coming back and asking questions about different animals. One pass holder asked us how our little drill monkey was doing, he had developed a lot during the 10-week closure."

She said the connection between visitors and individual animals was remarkable.

Ms Tennant said the support was even present outside the park: “I’ve had people spotting me around the local area and coming up to say how thrilled they are that we’re open again.” 

She said their teams were working with their birds to ensure there was no potential risk of transmission of bird flu, but the risk of another infection is low. 

Fota Wildlife Park director Aileen Tennant at the reopening of the park in December: 'We’re so uplifted by the support we’ve been shown by the public and the Government.' Picture: Alison Miles

“All systems are more or less back to the way they were before, except we keep our populations of birds separate.” 

Lots of different groups have been welcomed back to the park in the last month, she said. “We’re really looking forward to connecting with more schools again, as schools that would usually be in all had to postpone during the closure."

Staff are also focused on conservation efforts for the year ahead, with the public currently able to suggest names through Fota's website for a baby colobus monkey born at the end of the year.

Work is also ongoing with native species, with Fota staff “headstarting” dunlin birds by collecting eggs from the wild and releasing the young back into the wild once they are hatched, while programmes for white-clawed crayfish and natterjack toads are also in progress.

“We are hopeful for lots of success stories in our breeding and conservation programmes this year. People and communities are such a huge part of this work, because without them coming through the front gate then we can’t deliver the programmes,” Ms Tennant said.

“It’s a very positive place at the moment. There’s lots happening, and lots more to come this year. We’re looking forward to St Brigid’s weekend, when we usually see a good boost of visitation, and we’re so uplifted by the support we’ve been shown by the public and the Government.”