Visitors return to Fota Wildlife Park following Christmas reopening

Fota Wildlife Park is delighted to welcome visitors back following its official reopening on Saturday 20th December. This marks the end of the Park’s 10-week closure due to an outbreak of avian influenza.

On Saturday, the Park was formally reopened by the Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD, at a festive event that was attended by invited guests and their families. The Minister recently announced additional funding from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to support the continuation of vital biodiversity conservation programmes at Fota Wildlife Park.

Aileen Tennant, Director of Fota Wildlife Park, said: “After what has been a very challenging period, we are absolutely delighted to welcome visitors back through the gates of Fota Wildlife Park. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and it means a great deal to our dedicated team, who have worked tirelessly to care for our animals and to prepare the Park for its reopening.

We are deeply grateful to the public and wider community for their continued support, including the generous donations, purchases, and remarkable goodwill shown over recent weeks by visitors, annual pass holders, and stakeholders. We are delighted to be open again and to once more share many special moments with our visitors.

We are also sincerely grateful to the NPWS and to the State for their recent financial intervention, which has secured critical investment in Ireland’s conservation infrastructure, ensuring that we can continue to deliver biodiversity recovery work.”

To add to the festive atmosphere, Santa Claus will be on walkabout at Fota Wildlife Park on Tuesday, 23rd December from 11 am to 1.30 pm, before returning to the North Pole to resume his busy Christmas schedule.

Visitors are reminded that Fota Wildlife Park will be closed on December 24th, 25th, and 26th and will reopen following the Christmas break on Friday, 27th December at 9.30 am.

With Christmas Day fast approaching, the Park also highlighted that online gift vouchers remain available, making an ideal last-minute present for loved ones and a wonderful way to support conservation, education, and excellence in animal care.

Fota Wildlife Park would like to thank everyone for the recent outpouring of support and looks forward to welcoming visitors over the festive season and into the New Year.

To pre-book tickets, go to www.fotawildlife.ie.